HIKAWA, Japan - The recent powerful earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture has left residents reeling from the impact, with local people and foreign nationals in shelters helping each other to overcome their anxiety and daily concerns such as lack of food supplies and water outages.
"It was the most intense shaking I've ever experienced in my life. It was terrifying," said Davina Putri, a 22-year-old Indonesian woman who is among around 100 people staying at an evacuation center in Hikawa town, one of the hardest hit areas.
Tuesday's magnitude-7.1 quake buckled and cracked roads and partially or completely destroyed the roofs of many houses. The town's infrastructure such as water and electricity has also yet to be restored.
Putri, a technical intern at a local strawberry farm in Hikawa for the past two years, has been staying at Ryuhokuhigashi Elementary School, where, according to a town official, there are currently 109 evacuees.
She is with her Indonesian colleague at the farm and two other Indonesian technical interns working at different farms.
She has experienced small earthquakes in Indonesia but said she "never imagined I would experience such a massive earthquake myself."
Recounting what transpired on the day of the quake, she said she was taking a break from farm work at the time and had returned to her home. The furniture in her room fell and dishes were scattered across the floor.
While the building did not collapse and she was not injured, she explained, "We can't use water or electricity. It was too hot to stay at home, so I evacuated to the elementary school last night."
Citing how the evacuation center is equipped with air conditioning, she said she is "truly grateful" for being able to eat and sleep comfortably. "This is all thanks to the cooperation and support of the local community."
Using the Japanese she learned while on the job, she asked a town hall staff member what was for lunch and received a packet of instant curry.
Putri said she and her fellow Indonesians are getting along well with Japanese residents taking shelter with them, occasionally helping each other, such as by talking to each other to forget the fear they experienced during the quake.
Even so, she remains fearful of another strong temblor as aftershocks continue in the area.
Putri said she feels the tremors occasionally at night and in the early morning. "I'm terrified that another big earthquake might hit," she added, and expressed hope that she can return home and resume work.
