(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I would like to brief you on our response to the Kumamoto Earthquake. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) is continuing to support residents with approximately 5,100 personnel today. As Typhoon No. 13 approaches, at the request of Kumamoto Prefecture, since yesterday the SDF has been helping cover homes with blue tarpaulins jointly with Kumamoto Prefecture and the Kumamoto Construction Association, as part of emergency cooperation to protect homes damaged by the earthquake. Yesterday, the work was performed in the Kagami district of Yatsushiro City. The SDF was in charge of first preparing and transporting sandbags used to secure the tarpaulins. Then, specialized contractors designated by the prefecture covered roofs and other elevated locations in the Kagami district with tarpaulins. The SDF was in charge of tasks such as transporting tarpaulins and bringing them up to elevated locations. In this way, the SDF is providing ground-based support in principle. Today, in order to prevent further damage from the approaching typhoon, approximately 40 more SDF personnel were added, bringing the total to approximately 50 personnel. The target areas were also expanded. In Yatsushiro City’s Kagami district and Uki City’s Ogawa district, Kumamoto Prefecture, the Kumamoto Construction Association, and the SDF will continue to leverage their respective strengths and work together to quickly install tarpaulins and protect the cherished homes of those affected. In addition, a forest fire broke out yesterday in Uki City, one of the affected areas. Local fire and other departments conducted firefighting activities but were unable to bring the fire under control. Accordingly, the Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture requested the Commander of the Ground Self-Defense Force Western Army for disaster relief operations. The SDF promptly dispatched a large helicopter and dropped approximately 15 tons of water. Four water tankers also supplied approximately 50 tons of water to firefighters conducting ground-based firefighting operations. The fire was brought under control in the early hours of today, and the Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture requested the withdrawal of the SDF at 7:04 a.m. Furthermore, today, we are continuing to provide water supply support at 29 locations across seven municipalities, mainly in Yatsushiro City, as well as provide water to eight hospitals that requested urgent assistance due to shortages of water required for dialysis. We are still providing bathing support at two locations in two municipalities, including Uki City. Kumamoto Prefecture continues to experience extreme heat each day. In order to maintain sanitary conditions for those affected, the SDF began providing bathing support at one location in Kumamoto City on July 31. Since then, based on requests from Kumamoto Prefecture, we have expanded our bathing support flexibly. Bathing support has now been expanded to seven locations across four cities and one town, including bathing units on HAKUOU II. As of yesterday, approximately 6,520 people in total have used the bathing facilities. As already notified on the MOD website, due to strong winds and other weather conditions, bathing support has been suspended today at three locations—the Ogawa Disaster Prevention Center in Uki City, Uto City Hall in Uto City, and the Hinokimi Cultural Center in Kumamoto City—as well as at Yatsushiro Port, including JS KUNISAKI. The MOD/SDF will continue to work in earnest to provide support to protect the daily lives of the affected people. That concludes my update for today.