Quake-hit residents in Japan's Kumamoto begin new life in temporary housing
KUMAMOTO, Japan (Kyodo) -- The first group of people began moving into temporary housing Saturday in a southwestern Japan town struck by a powerful ea
KUMAMOTO, Japan - Life for residents of Hikawa, a town devastated by a magnitude-7.1 earthquake in July, is set to begin anew in temporary housing. The first group of 43 individuals moved into the 20 prefabricated homes on Saturday, with construction ongoing to create additional units. The quake registered a maximum 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, causing widespread destruction.
Takahiro Miyagawa, a 73-year-old resident, received the keys to his new temporary home alongside his wife. He expressed his relief, stating, "It marks a restart. I want to sleep with my legs straight." The 20 single-story units were constructed in late August after about four weeks of work.
The town has received 47 applications for the units, prioritizing elderly residents and those with disabilities. By mid-November, it is anticipated that hundreds more houses will be completed in disaster-stricken areas like Yatsushiro and Uki. Currently, around 1,700 homes have been deemed completely destroyed.
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