‘I was quite scared’: Hongkonger in Japan’s quake-hit Kumamoto describes shock

Hong Kong’s travel authority also confirms that about 200 members of tour groups visiting region are safe following 7.1-magnitude earthquake

A Hongkonger has described being “quite scared” as a 7.1-magnitude quake shook Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture where she and her boyfriend were travelling, while the city’s travel authority confirmed that about 200 members of tour groups visiting the region were all safe.

Leon Chan, 18, recounted to the South China Morning Post that she and her boyfriend had just got off a bus on the west side of Kumamoto city when the quake hit on Tuesday afternoon. The epicentre was about 20km (12.4 miles) to the south.

“Initially I thought the tremors were from a passing truck, but they gradually grew more intense, and the alert on my phone sounded,” Chan said, adding that the shaking continued for about 30 seconds.

“I was quite scared as I had never experienced something like this before in Hong Kong.”

According to NHK, at least two hospitals were each reported to be treating more than 50 injured people, some in serious condition.

Chan said she and her boyfriend went back to their accommodation only to find the electricity and water supplies had been cut and the place in disarray.