July 30, 2026

Following the earthquake that hit Kumamoto Prefecture with a seismic intensity of 7 (magnitude: 7.1 on the Richter scale), Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families that suffered the loss of loved ones and his sincere sympathies to all those affected by the disaster.

At a press conference in the Diet building on July 29, Koike stated, “It is necessary to continue to stay alert. The JCP will demand that the national government prioritize saving lives and take all necessary measures.”

He reported that the party’s quake response task force, established immediately after the powerful earthquake occurred, is coordinating with local JCP organizations and local JCP assemblymembers to assess the extent of the damage and engage in relief efforts.

According to the task force, the closer to the epicenter, the greater the number of collapsed homes and destruction.

Koike pointed out that rebuilding homes and restoring the livelihoods of business owners are major challenges. He demanded that the government take urgent measures, such as extending the tax payment deadline for small business owners, which is currently set for the end of July.

Koike noted that many evacuation centers lack air conditioning, forcing many evacuees to sleep in their cars. He said, “This is a matter of life and death,” as water shortages and power outages amid the intense heat pose serious problems.

The task force report revealed that some evacuation centers have yet to receive food or daily necessities, and that many convenience stores are also running low on food supplies.

Koike urged the national and prefectural governments to deliver power generators, water trucks, container houses, refrigerated and frozen food trucks, and everyday items, including disposable diapers. He also stressed the need to deploy enough personnel to distribute these supplies.

He stated that the JCP will advise the national and local authorities to evacuate the elderly to hotels and other lodging facilities; address the issue of damaged medical and nursing-care facilities presently unable to admit patients; ensure the restoration of roads and railways; and install mobile base stations to resolve unstable cell phone and internet connections in the disaster-stricken areas.