Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday visited earthquake-affected areas in Kumamoto Prefecture to assess the damage caused by last week's powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake and review ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts. During her visit, she assured affected residents that the government would provide all necessary assistance to support recovery.

Wearing a disaster response uniform, Takaichi visited an evacuation shelter in the town of Hikawa, where she interacted with displaced residents and officials overseeing relief operations. She reiterated the government's commitment to rebuilding the affected areas, stating that every possible effort would be made to help communities recover from the disaster.

The Prime Minister also conducted an aerial inspection of heavily damaged locations, including the Aeon shopping mall in Kashima, where an explosion following the earthquake claimed seven lives, and a paper manufacturing plant in Yatsushiro, where nine people were killed. Television footage from the disaster zone showed collapsed sections of buildings, damaged rooftops and exposed structural frameworks, highlighting the scale of destruction caused by the quake.

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During discussions with local authorities, Takaichi reviewed measures to improve conditions at evacuation centres, including support for people staying in temporary shelters, vehicles and their homes. Officials also discussed concerns over rising temperatures, with parts of Kumamoto recording around 40 degrees Celsius, increasing the risk of heatstroke and disaster-related health complications among evacuees. The government is also considering using reserve funds from the fiscal 2026 budget to strengthen relief and recovery efforts.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28 at a depth of 10 kilometres. A tsunami warning of up to one metre was issued for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea following the tremor. The towns of Uki and Hikawa recorded the highest intensity of 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, indicating extremely violent shaking capable of causing severe structural damage.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as emergency response and rehabilitation work progresses across the affected region. The government has also encouraged secondary evacuations to safer accommodation and is working with local administrations to restore essential services while supporting residents impacted by one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the region in recent years.

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