[Title] Remarks by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Shigeru at Ministerial Meeting on the Forest Fire in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture

The forest fire in the city of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture has yet to be suppressed despite all-out efforts to extinguish it taking place even at this very moment.

This is a very serious situation, as the fire has spread to engulf a large number of buildings, and many people have evacuated. I wish to express my heartfelt sympathy to all those affected by this disaster. And, although the investigation about the specifics related to this disaster is still underway, I have been informed that one person has died and I offer my most sincere condolences on the loss of that person's precious life.

The Government swiftly committed an Emergency Fire Response Team and dispatched Self-Defense Force (SDF) units for disaster relief operations. We have also established an emergency response office in the Prime Minister's Office within its crisis management center and we are now working to ensure the safety of all local residents by collecting and collating information on the disaster and coordinating emergency measures through collaboration by relevant organizations.

I ask the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Minister of Defense to continue to commit necessary SDF units and make all possible efforts in their firefighting operations, with firefighters and the SDF acting as one, so that the fire is extinguished at the earliest possible time.

Moreover, approximately 800 people have evacuated, and the expectation is that they will be living in evacuation centers for extended periods.

I ask the Minister of State for Disaster Management to once again confirm the situation in each evacuation center and, in coordination with other relevant ministers, do his utmost to ensure good living environments there. The Sphere standards (standards in line with the Humanitarian Charter ensuring minimum standards in humanitarian assistance) have also been mentioned in this regard.

It will be crucial to provide assistance towards rehabilitating people's daily lives and livelihoods, with a focus on those whose residences were damaged as a result of the fire. I understand that in Iwate Prefecture, coordination has already begun for the provision of emergency temporary housing.

I want you to listen carefully to the views and requests of the local authorities and, making use of our various assistance programs, clear the path for the rehabilitation of people's daily lives and livelihoods through all relevant ministers acting in close cooperation. I also want you to work together with local governments to communicate with the public so that information on available assistance is disseminated to the disaster victims in a format that is easy for people to understand.

In addition to the city of Ofunato, the city of Otsuki (Yamagata Prefecture) has had fires break out. Firefighters and the SDF are working to suppress the fires there as well. This is a large-scale fire disaster that will materially impact the daily lives of the residents. I ask each minister and the Government to do everything in their power when responding to this situation, with renewed awareness that this is a true disaster and we must respond accordingly.