Noto Peninsula Earthquake

Prime Minister Kishida Visits Area Struck by Noto Peninsula Earthquake (Update 1)

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:07 JST, January 14, 2024 (updated at 17:30 JST)

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Ishikawa Prefecture, which was hit by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, on Sunday, marking the first time the prime minister has traveled to the disaster-struck area since the earthquake.

Kishida visited the Wajima Sub Base of the Air Self-Defense Force and gave words of encouragement to its personnel, saying, “I express my sincere respect and appreciation for your efforts.” He continued, “I hope that you will be there for the victims of the disaster and respond to their concerns and hopes for the future, despite the difficult environment.”

Kishida observed the living conditions at evacuation centers and assessed the level of damage from the earthquake. Yoshifumi Matsumura, minister of state for disaster management, and Ishikawa Gov. Hiroshi Hase accompanied the prime minister.

Kishida announced Sunday afternoon that he plans to spend more than ¥100 billion from the reserve budget for fiscal 2023 to support victims of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. He spoke to the press in Kanazawa, where he was visiting.

The government has already approved a Cabinet decision to spend ¥4.74 billion from the reserve fund on “push-type support” to deliver supplies to the affected areas without waiting for requests.