Indonesian interns and Japanese neighbors share shelter after Kumamoto quake

A 7.1-magnitude quake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, heavily impacting Hikawa town where roads buckled and numerous roofs were destroyed, while utilities remain down. Around 109 people, including Davina Putri and three other Indonesian technical interns who work on local strawberry farms, have taken refuge in Ryuhokuhigashi Elementary School, which now serves as an evacuation center. Putri recounted her home’s furniture toppling during the quake and her decision to leave the overheated house for the school’s air-conditioned rooms.

Shelter staff provided basic meals, and the Indonesian volunteers have been communicating with Japanese residents in Japanese, sharing conversation to ease fear. Despite gratitude for the support, Putri remains uneasy about further aftershocks that continue to rattle the area at night.