Singaporeans recount the experience of the Japan earthquake

SINGAPORE – As Mr Melvin Shaw was finishing the night in his hotel room in Hakodate, Hokkaido, his phone blared a loud alarm at around 11pm.

The 48-year-old real estate agent was shocked when he saw an alert warning that a major earthquake was imminent and that he should take shelter immediately.

Before he could respond, his hotel room began shaking violently.

Speaking to The Straits Times on December 9, Shaw, who was on holiday with his wife and 12-year-old son, said: “We panicked and didn't know what to do. We didn't dare to leave the room, so the three of us hid under a very narrow table.

“We waited about a minute or so until the shaking stopped…I wondered if the building was going to collapse. It was like riding a roller coaster.”

Just minutes after he feared for their lives, another loud alarm went off from his phone – this time warning of a tsunami.

“My wife was holding my son tightly and making sure his head was under the table, because he is so tall,” Mr Shaw said.

After the first tremor, aftershocks followed, and when they subsided, he tried calling the hotel reception, but no one answered.

Shaw was among the Singaporeans influenced by the powerful

7.5 magnitude earthquake

Which shook northeastern Japan late on December 8. Following the quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning, with one wave hitting a port in the northern Aomori prefecture.

Mr Melvin Shaw was on holiday in Hakodate with his wife and 12-year-old son when the quake struck.

Photo: Melvin Shaw/Facebook

Hakodate, one of the main cities in Hokkaido, is located about 121 kilometers from Aomori and is located by the sea.

Warnings of the earthquake and tsunami led to about 90,000 residents being ordered to evacuate their homes, although the warnings were later downgraded to warnings.

Japan is the top destination for Singaporean travellers, according to Visa's Global Travel Intentions Study released in early 2024.

According to the Singapore Office of the Japan National Tourism Organization, A

Record-breaking 691,100 Singaporeans

He visited Japan in 2024.

Hokkaido is a popular year-end destination, with many flocking to its ski resorts.

Angie Thanong, 39, was in the restroom of a Sapporo store when the siren sounded at about 11 p.m.

The preschool teacher checked her phone and, realizing it was an earthquake, ran out of the store with her 12-year-old son and returned to their hotel.

Thanong said that many guests began to gather in the hotel lobby, adding that the hotel's hanging lights began to sway.

“There were a lot of people running down the stairs,” she said. “Some were barefoot, some came without pants, and some came in their pajamas. There were children crying, but most people waited patiently in the hallway.”

After about two hours, Ms. Thanong was able to return to her hotel room. She quickly packed her bags and charged her power bank and phones, before deciding to get some rest.

She added: “We took a quick shower and then slept in appropriate clothes, so we could get out of them if necessary.” “We were expecting aftershocks, but fortunately we slept through the night.”

Another Singaporean housewife, Laura Lim, had returned to her hotel in Sapporo after taking her son and daughter to the Alpine Snowland Pipe Recreation Center on December 8 when she felt the quake.

The 40-year-old said she and her husband felt the hotel building shaking, with beds shaking and lamps swaying from side to side for two to five minutes.

Despite their fears, the couple tried to remain calm.

“My children, aged six and eight, slept through the earthquake, and we are happy that everyone is okay,” she said. “We did not react much because we did not want to scare them and cause any panic.”

For Ms. Nurhida Johan, being exposed to the strong tremors left her “shaking badly.”

“It was a terrifying experience, and I cried many times,” she said.

“The hotel building was swaying,” added the 59-year-old, who was vacationing in Hakodate with her sister.

She recalled rushing down from her hotel room on the fourth floor at around 10.30pm when the building shook, adding that she “could barely walk”.

Ms. Nurheide Johan noticed large crowds gathered at Hakodate Train Station.

Photo: Courtesy of Nurhida Johan

Netizens also took to a Facebook group for Singaporeans in Hokkaido to recount their experiences. Many of them said they had to evacuate their hotel rooms and gather in the hotel lobby.

However, all Singaporeans who spoke to ST said they would continue with their travel plans to Japan.

“Everything seems to be back to normal, and there have been no aftershocks so far,” said Shaw, who will then head to Tokyo on his 16-day trip. “There has been no damage to the buildings here, and transportation is running smoothly now.”

Ms. Norhaide said she had since traveled to Sapporo by train as planned, although she noticed large crowds gathering at Hakodate train station. She is scheduled to return to Singapore on December 12.

In a Facebook post on December 9, the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo urged Singaporeans to stay away from bodies of water, closely monitor local conditions and contact the embassy for consular assistance.

Additional reporting by Vihanya Rakshika

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