Start earthquake prevention not from tomorrow but from today!
The topic today is "A lesson from the Fukuoka West earthquake."
"I have never thought that earthquake will occur here." But it did occur.
An earthquake occurred in Fukuoka Prefecture West Sea, 10:53, 20th March 2005.
So was the earthquake in Chuetsu of Niigata Prefecture. Many local residents said the unexpected and the unbelievable actually happened.
Staff from Fire Bureau of Sendai City interviewed some victims of the earthquake.
Female, 56-year-old, housewife.
Female, 57-year-old, housewife.
When the earthquake came, I was in the house of nearby relative. While I was drinking tea in the living room, a lateral shake occurred and soon followed by a vertical shake. I did not know it was an earthquake until the moment it stopped. I have never thought of earthquake here.
I could not do anything during the earthquake. Cupboard and television fell down, but it was impossible for me to stop it.
After the earthquake settled, I went outside. Someone said let's get together in the square, so I went there with nothing in my hands. Many people were there already. I could see people getting there from all directions.
Now people were in the square, but someone said, "Let's go to the elementary school, since it is the place for evacuation." So I knew that even the leader was confused in emergency.
Male, 45-year-old, fruit shop keeper.
At the time of earthquake, I was sitting on a chair. Suddenly, a shaky shock came. The desk was like floating 20 cm. I could not do anything.
There are many "do's and don'ts" for earthquake, but in such a strong earthquake you could think of nothing at all.
I just hold my desk tight and hope the earthquake will stop.
"When will it stop? When will it stop?" This was the only thing I hoped for. The earthquake seemed to be lasting for 2 minutes, but it actually continued for just 10 to 15 seconds.
Many typhoons come to this area. But you can know all the typhoon information from news. I did prepare for disasters, but earthquake is really fearful since nobody knows when it will come. Even now, I am so surprised since I had thought that there is no earthquake in Fukuoka.
Many buses pass in front of my shop. I can feel some vibration due to emergency brakes. It makes me very anxious when I remember my experience during earthquake.
Some days ago, I fixed all the furniture and the television in my house. Cupboards are supported with jack and L letter metallic parts.
From the interview of the victims of earthquake, we received the impressions that "one can do nothing" and "unstable objects fall" when earthquake comes. Besides, from the earthquake mentioned above and the Miyagi earthquake 27 years ago, the followings are expected to happen:
- Doors are broken and cannot be opened. Emergency exits are blocked.
- People trapped inside elevators with no safety device for earthquake.
- Glass of building cracks and falls to the ground.
- People killed due to the falling of concrete block fence.
The lesson learnt is not only the problem of concrete block fence and the fixing of furniture, but also the problem of dealing the fear of being trapped in a closed space.
"Subway emergency stops." Passengers closed for 60 minute, escape on foot.
"Shinkansen stalls." Stop in tunnel for four and a half hours.
"Elevator stops." Waiting for rescue for 3 hours.
These were the headline news in local newspapers in Kyushu. How long can you keep yourself calm and do not become panic? Imagine you are trapped in train or elevator after an earthquake.
Even though an earthquake comes, you still have to live without all convenient life supports. It is better to prepare for the worst by imaging the following scenes: "Earthquake comes and you are in a commuter train," "You are riding on an escalator in a shopping mall," "You are trapped in an elevator of your mansion," etc.
* An aftershock of seismic intensity 5 weak occurred on April 20th, one month after the earthquake, and caused damages again. Aftershocks usually continue for a while after a strong earthquake. Please stay alert.
In the previous day my daughter visited me with my grandchild. When the earthquake occurred, I was preparing breakfast and washing clothes.
I was using the oven. I opened the backdoor to keep an eye on the gas.
My husband went to the port for fishing. My elder son, my daughter and my grandchild were watching television in the living room. Suddenly, a shaky shock came. I tried to stand up but I found myself crawling my hands and knees. I was helpless. Time became very long.
When the earthquake stopped, I was so worried about the two gas heaters. In fact, I found that one of them was collapsed.
I felt it was necessary to extinguish the resulted fire. I looked for the scoop to carry water but I could not find it. Finally, I put off the fire by pouring the whole pot of miso soup to the fire.
Afterwards, my son shouted from outside, "What are you doing? Get out now!" I did what he said. After the earthquake was settled, I returned to the house and found that all furniture was fallen. It was a miracle that my daughter and grandchild did not get injured.