Volunteer Activities Fully Start in Quake-Hit Kumamoto

Hikawa, Kumamoto Pref., Aug. 8 (Jiji Press)–Volunteers have fully started their activities in the southwestern Japan prefecture of Kumamoto, which was hit hard by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake late last month. While the prefectural government initially called on volunteers to refrain from visiting affected areas as necessary preparations had not yet been made, all 11 municipalities seeking volunteers had begun procedures to accept such supporters by Thursday. Volunteer centers have been set up in the 11 towns and villages. As of 2 p.m. Saturday, 1,751 people were working as volunteers in afflicted areas. Of the 11 municipalities, the town of Hikawa, where the July 28 earthquake registered 7, the highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, began Saturday to accept volunteers from in and outside of the prefecture. “I came here to help affected people feel relieved, even a little,” said Kentaro Abe, a 53-year-old corporate worker from the Kumamoto town of Kikuyo. He helped remove disaster debris from a house in the town, where a cupboard and furniture had been scattered, amid scorching heat. Koichi Yamataka, a 71-year-old resident of the house, said, “I am really grateful because it’s dangerous for me to lift up heavy things.” The city of Yatsushiro is expected to start accepting volunteers Monday, after a delay caused by water outage and communication failure. Hiroaki Matsumoto, 58, a member of Yatsushiro’s social welfare council, which operates the city’s volunteer center, said, “I’m relieved as we will finally be able to start moving,” noting that many affected residents had said they want volunteers to come as early as possible. Also on Saturday, Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura visited Hikawa and the city of Uki, where the earthquake also measured 7 on the Japanese seismic scale. “I realized once again the severity of damage and was able to identify detailed needs that have yet to be addressed,” he said, calling on many people to come on weekends and during the “bon” summer holiday period in mid-August to join volunteer activities and “give power” to people affected by the disaster. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]