PRIME MINISTER TAKAICHI SPOKE TO THE PRESS REGARDING HER VISIT TO KUMAMOTO PREFECTURE TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE 2026 KUMAMOTO EARTHQUAKE

TOKYO, Aug. 3 -- Prime Minister and His Cabinet issued the following information:

[Provisional Translation]

[Opening Statement by Prime Minister TAKAICHI]Good afternoon.First of all, I would like to express my deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake and extend my heartfelt sympathies to their bereaved families.

My thoughts are also with everyone affected by this disaster.Earlier today, I conducted an aerial inspection over Mashiki Town, Kashima Town, Mifune Town, Kumamoto City, Uki City, Hikawa Town, Yatsushiro City, and Uto City, where I observed the damage to public infrastructure-including roads, bridges, and ports-as well as the impact on local businesses.I then visited an evacuation shelter ...