October 14, 2019

Super-typhoon Hagibis left behind widespread damage across Japan on October 12 and October 13, flooding and collapsing rivers, submerging many houses, and causing landslides. The record-hitting rains and storms so far resulted in 71 deaths.

The Japanese Communist Party created an emergency taskforce to respond to the disaster with JCP Chair Shii Kazuo as the chief of the taskforce and JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira as the deputy chief. JCP Dietmembers and local assemblypersons rushed to Hagibis-hit areas to participate in rescue and relief efforts.

The JCP taskforce held a meeting on October 13 at the JCP head office and discussed implementing the following emergency measures:

- JCP Dietmembers, local assemblypersons, and local organizations will work in coordination with each other to gather information and check the extend of the damage as of now;

- The JCP will press the central and local governments to place top priority on rescue and first aid as well as securing the safety of the people;

- JCP Dietmembers, local assemblypersons, and local organizations will visit victims to learn about their situation and identify their needs in order to prevent secondary disasters at evacuation centers; and address the improvement of their living conditions; and

- The JCP will raise relief funds nationwide for disaster-stricken areas.