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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Disasters & Emergencies

Cruel Japanese Earthquake: Chinese Netizens Cheer for Disaster, Hope for More

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto, Japan, with a maximum seismic intensity of 7.
  • Chinese netizens reacted with cruel comments online, expressing hopes that people would not be safe and wishing for a volcanic eruption.
  • The earthquake has become a trending topic on Chinese social media, sparking widespread discussion and outrage.

A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto, Japan, on April 28, registering a maximum seismic intensity of 7. The tremor caused widespread damage and fear. However, the reaction from some Chinese netizens has been disturbingly callous. Many took to social media platforms like Weibo to express cruel sentiments, with comments such as "hope they are not okay" and "hope something happens." Some even wished for Mount Fuji to erupt simultaneously.

hope they are not okay

— Chinese NetizenOnline comments reacting to the earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan.

The earthquake quickly became a top trending topic on Weibo, China's microblogging platform, drawing a massive number of comments. The online discourse revealed a disturbing trend of schadenfreude, with many users seemingly finding amusement in the misfortune of others. This reaction has sparked outrage and condemnation from many who find the comments to be malicious and lacking in basic human empathy.

hope something happens

— Chinese NetizenOnline comments reacting to the earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan.

The stark contrast between the natural disaster and the online vitriol highlights a concerning aspect of online behavior. While the earthquake caused real-world devastation, the digital space became a platform for hateful and insensitive remarks, drawing criticism for its lack of compassion.

hope Mount Fuji erupts too

— Chinese NetizenOnline comments reacting to the earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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