Japanese panel seeks to use vacant houses in event of major quake
Jiji -- Aug 30
A Japanese government advisory panel on Tuesday proposed utilizing private vacant houses and rooms to provide temporary housing in the event of a major earthquake.

The experts' panel set up by the Cabinet Office said the government needs to determine the location of vacant houses and rooms that can be used in the event of a disaster beforehand to secure candidate places for temporary housing.

The panel called on the central and local governments to consider procedures for affected people to use such housing and set rules for living in such places safely in advance.

"We want to further consider the issue in details over a year or two," Hachiro Okonogi, minister for disaster management, told a press conference.

News source: Jiji