Around 4:27 PM on July 28, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake with an epicenter in the Kumamoto region of Kumamoto Prefecture occurred, observing a maximum seismic intensity of 7. After the earthquake, shortages of drinking water, hygiene products, daily necessities, and other items became severe in some evacuation centers.

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In response to this situation, "Ryū Zai Nichi Kakyō Enjo Kyōkai" ("Ryū Kōeki"), a public interest organization of Chinese residents in Japan, which received a request from Japan's private disaster relief organization "Soratobu Sōsaku Iryōdan," immediately commenced aid activities. Collaborating with companies and organizations such as the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Japan, Air China Japan & Korea Branches, Jiangxia Co., Ltd., and Taisei Tsusho, as well as many volunteers, they procured and urgently transported relief supplies particularly needed in the disaster-stricken areas.

The supplies delivered this time mainly consisted of daily necessities such as drinking water, adult diapers, heat countermeasures, tissue paper, and portable toilets (emergency toilets), with a total volume exceeding 10 tons. The relief supplies were transported to the disaster-stricken areas by emergency transport.

On the night of July 30, transport vehicles departed from various locations in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. On the morning of August 1, the convoy merged at the Kita Kumamoto Service Area in Kumamoto Prefecture, and then proceeded towards the vicinity of the epicenter.

From noon to afternoon on the same day, the relief supplies were successively carried into the following designated reception centers in Yatsushiro City:

Yatsushiro City Kagami Branch Office

Yatsushiro City Senchō Branch Office

Yatsushiro City Daiyō Community Center

By 4:45 PM, the unloading of all over 10 tons of relief supplies was completed and handed over to local government officials and related parties. The supplies were then successively distributed to evacuees in each evacuation center. The transport staff and vehicles, having completed delivery, began their return journey after the work was finished.

"Ryū Kōeki" is a non-profit public interest organization established by volunteers from the Chinese community in Japan. It is dedicated to emergency mutual aid and social contribution activities for the Chinese community living in Japan, as well as promoting Japan-China private exchanges. In emergencies such as natural disasters, it continuously coordinates and implements relief activities, including sharing disaster information, procuring relief supplies, and distributing supplies locally. (Reporting/RR)