Taiwanese Travelers Return From Kumamoto After 7.1 Earthquake, Recount Shaking Experience

Around 150 Taiwanese travelers arrived back in Taiwan on Wednesday, having departed from Kumamoto, Japan, following a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the region. The earthquake, which registered a maximum intensity of 7 in Uki City and Kawachi Town, caused significant damage, including infrastructure disruptions and water outages.

Passengers recounted the terrifying experience of the earthquake. One traveler, Ms. Li, described the moment the shaking began just after she and her family had completed check-in at Kumamoto Airport. "The whole world was shaking," she said, recalling the intense tremors that made it difficult to stand. Her original flight for Tuesday night was canceled due to the seismic activity.

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the whole world was shaking

Many travelers expressed admiration for Japan's disaster preparedness. Despite the chaos, they witnessed orderly evacuations and swift responses from authorities. One woman noted how office workers immediately donned safety helmets and evacuated calmly, leaving a strong impression of Japan's disaster response capabilities. Another traveler mentioned the rapid depletion of essential supplies like bottled water and bread from supermarkets, and long queues at gas stations, indicating a swift community response to the emergency.

Some travelers faced additional challenges in their attempts to return home. Ms. Li's plan to travel to Fukuoka was thwarted by the suspension of train and bus services, and the unavailability of taxis. Ultimately, they learned of additional flights being added from Kumamoto back to Taiwan, which allowed for their safe return.

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The whole world was shaking. Passengers could barely stand and had to hold onto pillars to take cover.