20 hours in Ibaraki, and how I escape from the earthquake

On friday morning before the earthquake happens, I had one bread and then went for interview in Ibaraki, north of Tokyo.

After I finished my interview, I went back to the station by Taxi.

On the way going back, suddenly the big earthquake happens. The old taxi driver told me that this is the greatest one he had ever experienced, and this will be very serious. Then we saw some parts of building collapsed, wall and tree fall down.

He sent me to the train station, but told me that it is impossible for the train to move, and told me to take care. That's all he can do.

In the train station (in some rural area), there's around 200 hundred people gathering there, all standing outside the open space. The building kept on shaking, and everyone just don't know what to do. I saw some people crying because they can't find their parents, and in contrast some people are some happy when they finally met someone they know. Then sound of fire engines, ambulance and helicopter can be heard everywhere.

Then suddenly 2 ppl came to me, said 'sensei' (doctor). (maybe because I am still in suit) After talked with them I knew that they are doctors came for an important conference, and I decided to follow them. (If I didn't follow them I guess I would be directionless, just like many people wandering at the station) They told me the most important thing we should do is reserving energy, should go to some shelters to stay away from the cold wind.

The sun starts to set, the city would be in total darkness. The doctors said we must find somewhere to hide from coldness, when there's still sun light. By following them, we walked to the hotel where they had their conference.

In the hotel, there's still reserved electricity, which would stand for another 3 hours. We met some doctors there, around 20 people. Luckily there's still some food left in the hotel, and I had one onigiri.

We did some preparation where there's still electricity. Everyone had a blanket and stay in the lobby. After a while, the reserved electricity gone. Luckily there's two hotel buses there. They turned on the engine, open the headlight, point towards the direction that we can run away if anything happened.

There's countless aftershocks in the night, but it's lucky that we are safe. We tried to move as less as we can, so we can reserve our energy.

In the morning, we are prepared to escape. We had some coffee and sugar cubes (that's all we can get), and prepare to run away. The station is still shut down. The doctors divided into two group. The majority decided to stay until it is confirmed safe, and another 2 doctors which I followed decided to take the risky way to escape.

So, the escape plan starts. I don't know how they manage to get a taxi. We take a 2hrs ride to somewhere nearer to border of tokyo. Then we manage to find a station that there may be some trains passing by. I was lucky enough to follow them. They told me that this way is actually quite risky, because something may happen on the way, and we may not get back to the hotel anymore. But I am glad that they made a right choice.

After waiting for some time, the train comes. Everyone tried to get into the train, pushing each other (it was very unpleasant situation). The train was slanting, and some old people chose to stay in the station. Luckily the train didn't collapse, and we manage to get to tokyo border.

After get to tokyo, everything is in much better conditions, and I manage to get to my friends. Finally had some food.

I really want to thank those those doctors who had so many informations and saved my life. If not because of them, I may be someone who was wandering outside the station and don't know what to do. If not because of them I may still stay inside the hotel, where food and water supply is decreasing.

Hopefully people stuck in the rural area managed to get out.

Actually the aftermath is very scary. When there's no water, no food, no electricity, no water, no information, you really don't know what to do!

Compared to the people in Sendai, I think my case is still very light. Friends up there, take care.

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