"Toilet trailers" carrying flush lavatories have been delivered from municipalities across Japan to evacuation centers in areas that suffered major damage from earthquakes that started on New Year's Day.

Eight toilet trailers were delivered to Ishikawa Prefecture evacuation centers in Noto Town, Nanao City and Wajima City, where water and power outages continue.

A general incorporated association, Tasukeai Japan, which is promoting efforts to expand the use of toilet trailers across the country, says that the trailers are equipped with 3 to 4 toilets and capable of about 1,500 uses per vehicle.

It says that toilets can be flushed using solar power.

A trailer owned by Gunma Prefecture arrived at the Noto Town municipal building on Friday.

A woman in her 70s who used it said that it feels totally different whether the toilet can be flushed or not.

A man in his 50s who had been using garbage bags placed over a toilet bowl said the new toilets are convenient because now he can even wash his hands.

Michishita Masatoshi, the head of the crisis management office of the town is concerned that people won't drink water because they are worried about unsanitary toilets and could suffer health problems such as dehydration. He said the service is very helpful as the water outage continues.