Ferry Used to Bring Solace to People in Quake-Hit Kumamoto

Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Pref., Aug. 17 (Jiji Press)–A large ferry chartered by Japan’s Defense Ministry is providing a place of comfort and relief to people affected by last month’s massive earthquake in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto. A two-night, three-day stay on the Hakuo II ferry is being offered to those hit by the 7.1-magnitude temblor, which struck July 28 and measured up to 7, the highest level on Japan’s seismic intensity scale. Free meal, bathing and medical services as well as a play area for children are provided on the ferry, anchored at Yatsushiro port in the Kumamoto city of Yatsushiro. A user said, “The bath felt so good.” The accommodation services began Friday, with a total of about 100 Japanese- and Western-style rooms available. All booking slots for 300 people were filled only about an hour after applications started on the website of the Kumamoto prefectural government and at evacuation centers. The next round of ferry stays will be offered for three days from Tuesday. The extensive facilities on the ferry are popular among users. The ship features large communal baths that are big enough to allow people to stretch out their legs and saunas as well as an air-conditioned lounge with Wi-Fi services. People can see the Yatsushiro Sea and islands through the windows. Volunteers are offering mental care at the play space for children at the request of the prefectural government. About 20 doctors and nurses are on board to provide medical care. Keiko Arakawa, 80, from Yatsushiro, who spent the three days on the ferry with her husband, said that Friday, the first day of the stay, was coincidentally her birthday. “I’m so happy that I received such an unexpected gift,” Arakawa said of the ferry stay, noting that the booking was made by her daughter, who gave up on returning to her parents’ home for the Bon summer holiday period due to the quake. “I’m honestly glad that I’m alive,” Arakawa said. Her husband, 82, expressed his gratitude, saying, “The bath felt so amazing.” A 42-year-old corporate employee from the city of Uki used the ferry service with her father and two daughters. She said that her home remains without running water, and that she has been visiting evacuation centers for food and bathing. “My younger daughter, who is 7 years old, was wolfing down a hamburger steak blissfully,” she said, adding that she is “thankful” the meals provided on the ferry included vegetables. According to the Defense Ministry, about 400 people took baths on the vessel from Aug. 5 to Thursday, a service provided ahead of the start of the ferry stays, amid ongoing water outages in the cities of Yatsushiro and Uki, and the town of Hikawa. “Being able to offer an all-in-one package of necessary daily life support is extremely meaningful,” a ministry official said. “We’ll act on the prefecture’s requests in cooperation with other central government agencies and ministries,” the official added. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]