First Thai family return to Bangkok from quake-hit area in Japan

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First Thai family return to Bangkok from quake-hit area in Japan



BANGKOK: -- The first group of five Thais evacuated from deadly-quake struck Southern Japan returned to Bangkok late last night.

The Waijanya family of five members was on a Songkran holiday tour at Sasebo and Huis Ten Bosch in the southern island.

Ms Pattaraporn said the family left for Japan since April 13.

After arriving and enjoying the tour for just one day, several earthquakes were reported.

A check of the earthquake on the mobile application later revealed that the route to her hotel was at the centre of the deadly quake.

She said her family was very lucky because the elevated expressway which she had to use to travel to the hotel had collapsed in the quake.

The path to the hotel was in the centre of the deadly quake, she said.

She recalled that when the first quake rocked the town, everybody in the hotel ran outside.

This happened for up to 10 times following the ensuing aftershocks, forcing her to move out of the hotel room to open space outside where other hotel customers were already gathering there near a bonfire, she said.

She said after enduring the cold outdoor for a few days, the family decided it was time to go.

She chartered a taxi to take the family to the airport to take a flight back home.

She said she had been to Japan for five times in the past but it was the first time she encountered the quake.

She said she was afraid of the quake but was fortunate none of the family was hurt.

The Thai embassy said that it has sent buses to pick up stranded Thai tourists and students at three locations in Kumamoto to Fuku-oka Prefecture yesterday.

It said 24 Thais were picked up at a primary school, and 16 from Kumamoto University’s library.

It said 87 other stranded at an indoor sports stadium along with 68 foreigners were also picked up.

It added now several hotlines were installed for inquiring. The hotline numbers of the Thai embassy in Tokyo are +81 90 4435 7812 and + 81 90 1216 3168. Or the Call Centre of the Consular Department at 02 572-8442.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/159914


-- Thai PBS 2016-04-18