‘I Thought I Would Die’: Survivors Recall Horror As Powerful Earthquake Hits Japan

Survivors in Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture are describing scenes of fear and devastation after a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the region, killing at least 13 people and leaving widespread damage in its wake.

The earthquake hit late on Tuesday, sending buildings shaking violently and triggering a frantic emergency response across the region.

At Sendan Shokudo, a diner in Yatsushiro, 75-year-old co-owner Hiroko Ogata said she immediately took cover under a table as the building lurched from side to side.

Everything on the kitchen shelves fell to the ground, while bowls and glasses shattered.

“I was surprised, and scared,” Ogata told the BBC. “I thought I would die.”

The earthquake has brought back painful memories for residents of Kumamoto, an area located on an active tectonic fault system. In 2016, a series of powerful earthquakes killed hundreds of people and injured thousands more.

Residents said Tuesday’s tremor felt particularly intense, with strong aftershocks continuing to rattle communities hours later.

Yui, who runs a cake shop near an affected shopping mall, said she struggled to distinguish the sound of the earthquake from what she initially thought was an explosion.

“All I could do was hold the chair I was sitting in as big jolts came one after another,” she said.

Three people were reportedly killed at the Aeon shopping mall in Kumamoto City, while rescue teams continued searching for people believed to be missing.

Emergency services have been mobilised, with thousands of personnel deployed to assess damage and support rescue operations.

Power and water supplies have been disrupted in parts of Kumamoto City, while dozens of medical facilities have reportedly sustained damage.

The earthquake also damaged historic landmarks, with parts of Kumamoto Castle’s exterior walls collapsing and the worship hall of Yatsushiro Shrine reportedly destroyed.

For many residents, the immediate concern is survival. Some stores have reportedly run out of food and water, while damaged roads and continuing aftershocks have heightened fears of another major tremor.

Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, warning that further earthquakes could occur.

As rescue operations continue, survivors are also beginning the difficult task of rebuilding their lives and businesses.

Ogata said she has already started cleaning her restaurant, hoping to reopen as soon as possible.

But with aftershocks forcing her to stop work repeatedly, the road to normality remains uncertain.

“If we keep having this many aftershocks, it will be very stressful,” she said.

For residents across Kumamoto, the earthquake has left behind not only physical destruction but also the lingering fear of what might come next.