Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited Kumamoto Prefecture after it was struck by a pair of powerful earthquakes last week.

Abe met with police and firefighters involved in the rescue and reconstruction efforts in the area on Saturday. Later during the day, he also met with the people who evacuated their homes, and are now living in a makeshift evacuation centre in Minamiaso.

Abe has been criticized greatly by the opposition and the Japanese public for not visiting the affected areas in time.