Takaichi: "Injuries Reported in Strong Quake... Full Efforts to Minimize Damage"

Press Conference Held One Hour After Earthquake
Assessing the Scale of Human and Material Damages

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated on the afternoon of July 28 that the government will make every effort to minimize damage related to the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that occurred near Uki City in Kumamoto Prefecture, western Kyushu, and that injuries have already been reported.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Yonhap News Agency

Prime Minister Takaichi held an emergency press conference about one hour after the earthquake struck, saying that the government is confirming the scale of both human and material damages.

Prime Minister Takaichi stated, "There are already injured people," and added, "Some areas are experiencing power outages and fires."

She went on to say, "There has also been destruction of roads and bridges, as well as building collapses," and urged local residents to evacuate to safe locations.

Prime Minister Takaichi expressed concern that, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, strong tremors were observed not only in Kumamoto Prefecture, where the magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred, but also across a wide area of Kyushu.

In particular, as the time for preparing dinner approaches, she asked people to be especially cautious about the risk of fire when using open flames for cooking.

Prime Minister Takaichi stated that a Cabinet Office investigation team would be dispatched to the earthquake-affected area, and that she instructed that, with a focus on local police and fire services, the government should act as one entity and prioritize rescue and relief operations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.