Related: Death toll from Japan earthquake reaches 27

    TOKYO, Oct. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Japanese government set out Tuesday fresh steps, including a revision to a disaster relief law, to help survivors hit by a series of deadly earthquakes in Niigata Prefecture as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited the disaster areas.

    Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said that the government will consider a possible revision to the law to help housing repairs, and the government's science and technology paneldecided to tap its funds for urgent earthquake studies.

    The current Disaster Relief Law has often barred victims from getting benefits if their houses were upright, even after suffering damage large enough that they have to be rebuilt, the top government spokesman said at a press conference

    "We need to deal with the sufferers in a fine-tuned manner," Hosoda said. The law currently provides residents up to 3 million yen (28,000 US dollars) if their houses are fully destroyed and 1 million yen if half-destroyed by a natural disaster.

    In a separate news conference, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kazuo Kitagawa said his ministry has allowed toll-free use of expressways operated by state-run Japan Highway and Metropolitan Expressway public corporations for vehicles carrying relief goods to disaster areas.

    Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Taro Aso said his ministry has asked prefectural governments and major municipal city governments to provide assistance to Niigata Prefecture.

    The government's Council for Science and Technology Policy also decided to disburse most of its 300 million yen fund to investigate damage and causes of the quakes, science and technology minister Yasufumi Tanahashi said.

    According to Kyodo News, the government has been providing relief supplies including 332,000 meal packages in affected areas. Enditem