Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in rain-battered Kumamoto Prefecture on Monday morning to ascertain the status of the damage in the wake of the disasters for the first time.
Abe visited and offered a silent prayer at Senjuen, a special nursing home in the village of Kuma, where 14 residents were killed by one of the floods caused by the extremely heavy rainfall.
During a meeting with Kumamoto Gov. Ikuo Kabashima, Abe said, "I would like to do my utmost in cooperation with the local government [for the area's recovery and reconstruction]."
In the fallout of the heavy inundation in the Kyushu region, 68 people have died and the whereabouts of 12 people remained unknown as of 11 a.m. Monday.
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