SHAH ALAM - A Malaysian tourist on holiday in Sapporo described a terrifying night as a powerful earthquake shook his hotel, sending guests scrambling for safety while tsunami warnings were issued across northern Japan.
Zulhazri Abu Bakar, 51, said he and his wife were resting in their hotel room on the 10th floor when his phone suddenly blared an alert from Japan’s J-Alert System, warning of a major earthquake.
“The situation at that moment was very frightening with the stairs and building shaking but I forced myself to lead the others to find a safe place and route to shelter,” he said, recalling the chaos that unfolded on Monday night.
Zulhazri, who was travelling with his wife, Hanizah Hisham, 43, and four friends, said they immediately grabbed their passports and essential items before rushing out and alerting their travel companions.
His earlier decision to study the emergency exit routes upon checking into the hotel proved crucial.
“Fortunately, on the first day we checked into the hotel, I felt compelled to observe the emergency exit routes. So it was quite easy for me to find the way out during that critical moment,” he said.
The 7.2-magnitude quake struck off the coast of Aomori at 11.15pm local time, prompting authorities to warn of possible tsunami waves reaching up to three metres. As tremors shook the building, Zulhazri said all he could do was pray for everyone’s safety.
“Imagine, this is the first time my friends and I have gone through something like this, with the stairs and building shaking and starting to feel dizzy, but Alhamdulillah we are safe,” he added.
Hotel guests were instructed to gather in the lobby for an hour before being allowed to return to their rooms once the situation was declared safe.
Zulhazri said this was not his first brush with danger, as he had previously experienced the bombing at Taksim Square in Turkiye.
Reflecting on the ordeal, he said the incident served as a meaningful reminder to always be prepared.
“When we are enjoying ourselves on holiday, we must also remember to always keep our passports and phones with us to ease matters should a disaster like this occur,” he said.