Kumamoto earthquake relief: Coast Guard ship and municipal staff deployed

Relief efforts are intensifying for those affected by the Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake. The Japan Coast Guard Academy has dispatched its training ship, ‘Itsukushima’, from Kure, Hiroshima, to provide essential services to disaster areas.

The vessel, carrying approximately 120 crew members and trainees, is equipped with 100 tons of drinking water. It aims to provide water supplies, bathing facilities, and mobile phone charging services to residents facing ongoing water outages. The ship is scheduled to arrive at Yatsushiro Port on August 22 and will remain active until August 26.

Additionally, Iruma City in Saitama Prefecture has announced the dispatch of two staff members to Kumamoto City to assist with recovery operations. These officials will serve from August 24 to September 1, focusing on managing evacuation centers and processing disaster victim certificates.