Over 2,000 remain in shelters 1 month after Kumamoto quake

KUMAMOTO, Japan - More than 2,000 people remained in evacuation shelters Friday, a month after a powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, with extreme heat raising concern about disaster-related deaths and authorities rushing to help survivors rebuild their lives.

The Cabinet approved the same day the release of 147.8 billion yen ($927 million) in reserve funds from the fiscal 2026 budget to fund support measures for the quake-hit areas, including a travel subsidy across the country's southwestern main island of Kyushu where Kumamoto is located.