Jul 10 (NHK) - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the government will provide financial support to areas in western Japan that have been battered by record-breaking torrential rains.
Abe convened a second meeting of the government's emergency disaster countermeasure task force on Monday.
He said the government will provide relief supplies, secure the physical distribution of goods, and send officials to local municipalities hit by the rains.
He also said authorities will make sure air conditioners are installed and other living conditions are improved at evacuation centers, and lead efforts to build temporary housing units for displaced survivors.
Abe added the central government will work closely with local municipalities to make sure people affected by the disaster get what they need as quickly as possible.
He indicated that the government will designate the torrential rains as a severe natural disaster so that it can give local municipalities larger subsidies for reconstruction.
The prime minister also said funds will be provided for relevant municipalities to safely and fully devote their energy to emergency response and recovery efforts.
