Japan to double budget reserves for earthquake relief - PM Kishida

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's government plans to double budget reserves to 1 trillion yen ($6.9 billion) for earthquake relief in the next fiscal year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Sunday.

Kishida announced the plan after his visit to the northwest Japanese region hit by a powerful earthquake struck earlier this month.

($1 = 144.9000 yen)

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)