▲ People watch a news report regarding the earthquake in Japan on the 28th.
Following a magnitude 7.1 strong earthquake that struck Kumamoto, Kyushu, Japan, on the afternoon of the 28th, South Korean tourists currently in the country or planning to visit soon expressed anxiety.
Mr. Lee, 41, who stated he was traveling in Fukuoka, Kyushu, that day, said in a phone call with Yonhap News, "Being on the 14th floor, which is the very top floor of the hotel, made me even more anxious. It shook really hard. I didn't even have the energy to hold my cell phone."
Lee added, "It was just me and my child in the room, and it shook so much that I panicked. Because Japanese buildings are well-designed to withstand earthquakes, it swayed side to side for a long time, but it still managed to maintain its balance."
The earthquake was a strong magnitude 7.1 tremor that occurred at 4:27 PM in the Kumamoto region of Kumamoto Prefecture, western Kyushu.
Lee remarked, "We were really anxious, but Japanese people responded calmly without much agitation. I wondered if it wasn't a big deal to them."
On a popular Naver online community frequently visited by tourists currently in Japan or preparing for a trip, numerous posts have been flooding in, raising safety concerns due to the sudden earthquake.
Korean tourists across various parts of Japan shared their anxiety with posts such as, "I'm at Kagoshima Airport and the building is shaking," "I'm in Fukuoka and I can feel the earthquake," and "I was startled when the alarm went off and the hotel shook in Kitakyushu."
Those planning to visit Japan are also showing concerns over the aftermath of the earthquake.
One community user wrote, "An earthquake right before I leave for Tokyo tomorrow. Even though it's far [from the epicenter], my acquaintances are shocked and reaching out, making a fuss."
Another user asked netizens whether it would be wise to proceed with their scheduled departure to Japan next week.
Comments on the post included, "I feel unsettled ahead of my departure," and "I'm supposed to visit Kumamoto and have a lot of worries."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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