Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Strikes Kumamoto, Japan! Aftershocks Continue, Supermarkets Stripped Bare? Taiwanese Resident in Japan Reveals Ground Reality

Yesterday, a magnitude 7.1 strong earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Yijia Ruan, a Taiwanese resident living in Kumamoto for five years, told Central News Agency in a phone interview that she was attending an online training session with colleagues at her office in Kumamoto City when the quake hit. Initially, they noticed slight tremors, but the shaking quickly intensified to the point where "we couldn’t even stand," prompting everyone to rush outside for safety.

She recalled that her phone only received the earthquake alert after the shaking had already begun. The quake lasted for an extended period, and even after evacuating outdoors, strong tremors were still clearly felt. Her office is located in central Kumamoto City, surrounded by many residential buildings. After the quake, numerous residents evacuated their homes, gathering in the streets.

Once the shaking slightly subsided, Ruan and her colleagues returned to the office to assess the situation. They found cracks in the walls and scattered belongings. However, as aftershocks continued, they quickly tidied up a little before the company allowed everyone to leave early to check on their families and homes.

Ruan lives on the 9th floor. With elevators out of service after the quake, she had to climb all the way up the stairs. At home, many items had toppled over, but fortunately, no major cracks were found. The building’s residents’ association notified residents that parts of the water tank were damaged. While stored water is still available, there may be water shortages if repairs are delayed. Electricity remains stable, but elevators are still not operational.

Currently working for a local baseball team in Kumamoto, Ruan said the company immediately confirmed the safety of all players, cheerleaders, and staff after the quake. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. Scheduled team practices were canceled, and all personnel are staying home on standby, prioritizing safety.

After the quake, she visited a convenience store and found it packed with shoppers. Bottled water, barley tea, rice balls, and bread—non-perishable or ready-to-eat foods—were almost completely sold out. However, she observed that people were buying with purpose, focusing only on essential supplies, with no signs of chaotic panic buying. Due to ongoing aftershocks, she herself is currently avoiding using gas for cooking.

"Aftershocks have continued since the quake. This morning, even just now, there were tremors—though not as strong as yesterday," she said. Evacuation centers across Kumamoto are now open, and the government continues to issue updates via TV and other channels. Whether to evacuate remains a personal decision for residents.

She keeps a disaster preparedness bag ready at home, containing identification, cash, bankbooks, drinking water, dry rations, toilet paper, masks, and spare clothing—everything she’d need to grab instantly if evacuation becomes necessary.

Regarding Kumamoto’s overall situation, apart from partial damage to the outer walls of Kumamoto Castle, there have been no reports of widespread building collapses in the city. Areas with more visible damage remain concentrated in the southern part of the prefecture near the epicenter, including Yatsushiro City.

However, the Shinkansen, JR lines, and streetcars remain suspended. With firefighters, police, and Self-Defense Forces from across the country pouring into the region for rescue operations, road traffic is heavy. Therefore, she advises travelers planning to visit Kumamoto soon to consider postponing their trips until partial recovery is complete, which would be better for both visitors and locals.

After the quake, she received many concerned messages from family and friends in Taiwan. However, busy with checking on her company and home, she didn’t begin replying until later in the evening. She believes many affected residents are in similar situations and urges loved ones not to worry excessively: "We just need a little time to handle immediate matters—then we’ll slowly respond to messages."

Recalling the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, she was studying abroad in Fukuoka at the time. Though not far from Kumamoto, having teachers and classmates nearby made her feel relatively safe. This time, living alone in Kumamoto, she had to face everything independently, making the experience particularly profound.

In terms of physical sensation, she said the shaking was extremely intense—"we couldn’t even stand"—but judging by the current overall damage, she feels it’s not as severe as the 2016 quake. She hopes the aftershocks will gradually subside in the coming days. (Edited by Zhang Zhixuan) 1150729