Shocked South Africans tell of Japan quake
2011-03-13 10:18
Carel
van Renen, a teacher in Tokyo
"I
was on my way to work in my car. There was no rumbling…everything just started
shaking. At first I thought the wheels were falling off. People ran out of
their homes and everything shook around me."
"When
it was over, I drove to the kindergarten where I was to teach and along with
the teachers I tried to calm down the children on the playground outside. Just
then, the next big tremor came…"
"To
see the fear on the faces of the adults upset me a bit because the Japanese are
'used' to earthquakes. It is difficult to describe the situation across the
whole country. For example, I was unable to sleep because there were another
more than 50 tremors."
"The
shop shelves are becoming emptier…fuel is also running out, so I'm back on my
bike."
Carina van der Watt and Dr
Stephan van der Watt, Tokushima:
"Words can't describe
it...not even images can. Shortly after the first tremor, we ensured all our
emergency supplies were ready. Sendai
is completely devastated. The hills there are surrounded by water."
"People are trapped
and are surviving on melted snow for water. They have to spend another night in
fear and insecurity. Some are trapped on the roofs of buildings, in icy water. We
were thrown on the floor but not destroyed."
Neal Muragan from Johannesburg, in the Nagano Prefecture
"I'm ok, but badly
shocked. The atmosphere is sombre. The aftershocks keep coming. Two of over 6.
We barely sleep, our nerves are shot. Sendai
has been destroyed. Japanese officials are extremely well-organised,
well-prepared."
"There are teams
checking the gas and electricity lines. Sorry for the stammering. I'm not
sleeping. I'm in tremendous shock."
