Japan earthquake: Survivors describe the shock of the 6.8-magnitude tremor
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Kumamoto prefecture in Japan, causing significant damage and at least 13 deaths. Survivors described the intense shaking and the shock of the event, while emergency services continue rescue operations.
Why it matters
Natural disasters of this magnitude have immediate humanitarian impacts and require urgent emergency response coordination.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, The ramifications of the earthquake have been widely felt
Business was winding down for the day at Sendan Shokudo, a diner in Japan's south-western city of Yatsushiro, when the whole building suddenly lurched.
Everything on the kitchen shelves cascaded to the floor; bowls and glasses shattered.
The restaurant's co-owner, 75-year-old Hiroko Ogata, had just walked in.
"I was surprised, and scared," she told BBC News. "I went under one of the tables right away, but the table moved sharply towards the right, left, right, left, with me."
There's a reason Ogata knew how to react so swiftly: she has lived in Yatsushiro, in central Kumamoto prefecture, her whole life.
The area is located on an active tectonic fault system and is no stranger to tremors. In 2016, a pair of earthquakes killed 277 people and injured 2,800 others.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in