Taiwanese Tourist Recounts 'Terrifying' Experience During Kumamoto Earthquake, Praises Muji Staff's Response

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan, on the afternoon of April 28, with a shallow focal depth of approximately 10 kilometers. The strong tremor caused panic among locals and visitors alike. One Taiwanese tourist, who was shopping at the "COCOSA" shopping center in Kumamoto City, captured the aftermath inside a Muji store.

The tourist recounted being on an escalator when the violent shaking began. Rushing to the next floor with their child, they witnessed shelves toppled and merchandise scattered across the Muji store, describing the scene as chaotic. Despite the fear and their own screams, the tourist noted the remarkable composure of the Japanese staff.

According to the tourist, Muji employees immediately instructed everyone to crouch down. After the shaking subsided, staff calmly directed customers to a "bedding area" away from tall cabinets, providing pillows and blankets to ease anxiety. They also conducted headcounts before guiding everyone to evacuate via the emergency stairs about 10 minutes later.

The tourist expressed admiration for the staff's professionalism, noting that the employees remained calm throughout the ordeal. Photos shared by the tourist showed a mannequin toppled over in the clothing section, a startling image that led some online commenters to mistake it for a person. The orderly and well-executed evacuation by the store staff was widely praised by netizens.

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The sky just changed colour