TOKYO: The Japanese government plans to include not only destroyed homes but damaged ones in its aid program for demolition and clearance costs of residences hit by torrential rains this month, mainly in the Kyushu southwestern region, officials said.

The measure is not just a one-off step, but will be applied to all disasters designated as specified emergencies.

To date, the aid has been limited to destroyed houses. As special cases, damaged houses were covered at the times of disasters such as the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

The aid “will be provided for all disasters designated as specified emergencies,” Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told a press conference on Tuesday. On Thursday, he visited areas in Kumamoto Prefecture hit by the heavy rains.

Under the assistance program, owners of the houses judged as destroyed or damaged will ask local municipalities for demolition and clearance. If the work is conducted by local municipalities, the central government will cover up to 99.7 pct of the expenses.

It costs about one million yen to demolish and clean up a typical home, according to the environment ministry.

JIJI Press