Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced an additional allocation of 613 million euros for the reconstruction of areas devastated by the earthquake that struck central Japan on January 1st, bringing the total allocated amount to 1.6 billion euros. The 7.5 magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks destroyed parts of the Ishikawa region on the coast of the Sea of Japan, resulting in 241 deaths. Over 10,000 people are still living in shelters, with some areas still lacking water supply.
During a visit to the earthquake-affected areas to assess the situation, Kishida announced new financial aid on Saturday. He mentioned that living conditions in temporary shelters are improving, but the reality remains challenging. The government is committed to providing more support, and the Cabinet is expected to approve the additional resources of about 100 billion yen (613 million euros) in the coming days. This is the third emergency financial aid package since the New Year’s earthquake, with the total aid now exceeding 260 billion yen (1.6 billion euros).
The latest funds are partly intended to finance a grant system to help families with children rebuild their destroyed homes. Efforts to construct prefabricated temporary housing will also be accelerated.
The massive earthquake that struck central Japan on New Year’s Day, particularly affecting the Ishikawa prefecture, resulted in widespread damage and a significant death toll. The earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, led to the destruction of buildings, fires, and the issuance of a major tsunami warning, the first since the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Despite the tsunami warnings being eventually downgraded, the quake’s impact was profound, with at least 48 people reported dead and many areas experiencing significant destruction, including collapsed buildings and infrastructure damage. The Japanese government, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has been actively involved in the rescue and relief operations, emphasizing the urgency of saving lives and assessing the full extent of the damage. The situation remains challenging, with ongoing rescue efforts and thousands of households without power or water supply. The disaster has prompted a strong response from both national and international communities, offering condolences and assistance to Japan during this difficult time
