Sendai, Miyagi, 100-5678
13 March 2011
Dear Ben,
It’s been a while since I wrote, but I desperately want to find someone to share about my harrowing experience when the devastating earthquake and tsunami struck on 11 March.
It was the last day of my school exchange trip to Japan. I was resting in the hotel in Sendai when the 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck. I almost lost my balance as the ground rocked. For 2 terrifying minutes, I cowered under the table while vases, glassware and lamps came smashing down onto the floor. I heard the sound of pieces of ceiling plaster raining down and the shattering of glass windows. The lights flickered and went out. Then, it stopped. The silence was deafening. I dashed towards the door and rushed out of the hotel. A group of people were congregated anxiously outside the hotel, which fortunately survived the quake. There, I found all my teachers and schoolmates. Together, we got into our teachers’ cars and drove towards high ground as the car radio blasted frantic ‘tsunami-coming’ warnings.
Just as we reached the summit of a hill, I noticed that seawater at the coast had receded rapidly. I held my breath. Suddenly, a 10-metre wall of frothy roaring water swept inland at about 20 miles an hour! Fishing boats, trucks and even whole houses looked like small toys being thrown about by a boisterous child. Wherever the monster wave went, buildings crumbled, vehicles overturned and people screamed in despair. A few propane tanks blew up and fire raged across the water surface. Miles of wreckage were swept along towards us. I felt a pang of sadness as I witnessed a town completely devastated by the intense power of nature.
The waters had cut the road to the hilltop, leaving us stranded helplessly. We stayed there for the night until the next afternoon, where we were discovered by rescue workers. We were led to an evacuation centre and were offered food and water. Famished and freezing (at night the temperature dropped below zero), we tucked in heartily. What really impressed us was how stoic the Japanese are. When receiving their food rations, they lined up in an orderly manner. They did not panic of loot. They offered their food to us while they had their own families to feed. The order and generosity shown by the Japanese despite the disaster is remarkable. This is the Japanese spirit.
We were able to get cellular connection that evening, so I was able to contact my families and tell them that I was alright. We were able to travel to the nearest airport intact and book a flight back to Singapore this morning. I will be arriving in Singapore on this evening, so remember to be at Singapore Changi Airport at 7pm, Gate 50. It had been a daunting ordeal, yet I was fortunate to experience the warmth of the Japanese. I do not wish you were there though! Hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Sincerely,Wei Cong
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