If a building is severely damaged and certified as either totally or partially destroyed, the local government will pay for its demolition and removal, as long as the owner provides a disaster victim certificate or other required documents with their application.
The city has already started demolishing buildings that could cause further damage, and as of March 25, they are processing applications from those who want their buildings demolished.
To avoid too many applications at once, the city is accepting them in stages.
People who had already applied for demolition after their homes were damaged by last May's earthquake are the first to be eligible for assistance.
From May 1, the city will accept applications from all residents whose homes were partially destroyed or more by the New Year's Day earthquake.