Kumamoto Quake Victims Begin Moving into Temporary Housing

Hikawa, Kumamoto Pref., Sept. 5 (Jiji Press)–Residents of the town of Hikawa in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, whose homes were damaged in a massive earthquake in late July began moving into emergency temporary housing Saturday. A total of 20 makeshift housing units were built in the town, which experienced shaking of 7, the highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, in the 7.1-magnitude quake around 4:27 p.m. on July 28. They are the first temporary housing made available in the prefecture after the earthquake. A ceremony to hand over keys to the housing units was held from around 9 a.m. Saturday, with Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura and Hikawa Mayor Kazuomi Fujimoto in attendance. Attendees observed a moment of silence for quake victims. “We will do all we can for reconstruction so that all residents can regain their normal lives as soon as possible,” Fujimoto said in an address. Kimura vowed to provide solid support in cooperation with the town. Takahiro Miyagawa, 73, who received the keys on behalf of the new residents, had lived in a relative’s house since the quake, which completely destroyed his home. “I’m relieved that I can finally move in,” he told reporters. “We’ll make a fresh start.” The 20 single-story emergency homes made with lightweight steel frames stand on the site of a former town-run housing complex, with 15 of them having two rooms and a kitchen and the other five with three rooms and a kitchen. Evacuees will be able to live in the temporary homes for up to two years in principle. Similar homes are being built in the Kumamoto cities of Uki and Yatsushiro, which also suffered extensive damage from the temblor. According to the Kumamoto prefectural government, fatalities from the earthquake stood at 38 as of 2 p.m. Friday, including two whose deaths were suspected to have been indirectly caused by the disaster. A total of 64,903 residential buildings were damaged, including 1,748 that were completely destroyed. The temblor struck about 10 years after Kumamoto was hit by two powerful earthquakes in April 2016, which also measured up to 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]