Most schools in Japan's quake-hit Kumamoto remain closed with 146,000 students affected

About two-thirds of schools in Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan remained closed as of Monday after strong quakes hit the area earlier this month, affecting some 146,000 students, according to local reports.

A total of 391 schools of the 609 educational facilities in the prefecture are closed, said Japan's Kyodo News, adding that about 75 percent of prefectural high schools and more than 80 percent of elementary and junior high school run by municipalities suffered damage in the quakes.

An earthquake measured at 6.5 magnitude and another 7.3-magnitude quake jolted Kumamoto on April 14 and April 16 respectively, leaving 48 people dead and over 4,000 buildings damaged or in dangerous condition.

Some schools were also utilized as temporary shelters for the evacuees.

On Monday, 55 schools resumed classes after confirming the safety of their buildings and regaining essential utilities, said the report, adding that many other schools in the hardest-hit area were expected to take longer before reopening.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government paved the way to allocate more financial assistance to the quake-hit Kumamoto and Oita prefectures by designating the disaster as one of "extreme severity."

Local reports said the total recovery costs for roads, dikes and farm facilities are estimated to hit 286.1 billion yen (around 2.56 billion U.S. dollars), and the government will cover about 80 percent of the expenses. Endit