Kumamoto International Archive

Archive of the Kumamoto International Facebook group, 2011–present.

Official Update provided by Kumamoto City at 0:12 on Sunday 4/17:
You can get water from 7am to 9pm. If there isn't a truck there with water it's because it's gone back to refill. It will return. Please understand that there are many other citizens in need of water so there may be a long wait.
In Chuo ku
Isshi Elementary (中央区新町3-10-45）
Kurokami Elementary （中央区黒髪2-2-1）
1st floor of Kumamoto City Hall （中央区手取本町1-1）
Shirokawa Kouen (中央区草葉町5-1)
Kumamoto City Waterworks (Jouge Suidoukyoku)（中央区水前寺6-2-45）
Gofuku Elementary （中央区細工町2-25）
Yuushin'en （中央区出水4-15-30）
Takumahara Elementary （中央区渡鹿）
In Highashi ku
Higashi ku yakusho （東区東本町16-30）
Takuma Nishi Elementary（東区御領2丁目3-30）
Nagamine Elementary（東区長嶺南7-22-1）
Kengui Suigenchi （東区水源1-1-1）
Kusakabe Kouminkan （東区戸島1-15-48）
In Nishi ku
Jousai Elementary（西区島崎3-12−60）
Jousai Junior High（西区小島8-17-1）
Hanazono Elementary（西区花園6-9-15）
Kumamoto Shinkou Funatsukiba （西区新港1）
In Minami ku
Jounan Sougou Shucchoujo（南区城南町宮地1050）
Maihara Kouminkan （南区城南町舞原278）
Shimo Mashiki Jounan Junior High（南区城南町宮地1020−1）
Hiyoshi Elementary（南区近見1-9-30）
In Kita ku
Tatsuda Elementary （北区龍田7-7-1）
Yuge Elementary（北区龍田町弓削879-1）
Musashi Junior High（北区武蔵ヶ丘4-19-1）
Kiyomizu Iwakuradai （北区清水岩倉3-8-8）
Tatsuda Nishi Elementary（北区龍田陳内2）
Musashi Elementary（北区武蔵ヶ丘3-15-1）
Hokubu Sougou Shucchoujo（北区鹿子木町66）

Places you can charge your phones, courtesy of KDDI, softbank, and docomo
In Kumamoto City:
Hagashiku
Izumigaoka Elementary
Takuma Sougou Shucchousho
Mashiki:
Hiroyasu Elementary
Hiroyasu Nishi Elementary
Mashiki Sougou Kouen Minaterasu Koutsuu Jouhou Center
Mashiki Hiroyasu Aijien
Mashiki Hoken Fukushi Center
Chuo ku
Gofuku Elementary
Isshin Elementary
Izumi Minami Elementary
Hadutake Elementary
Shirakawa Elementary
Mifune
Mifune Elementary
Mifune Junior High
Mifune Culture Center
Kashima
Kashima Choumin Kaikan
In Uto City
Midorigawa Elementary
Kakujou Junior High
Hoken Center
Uto Higashi Elementary
In Kikuchi City
Kikuchi City Hall

Google has released a map showing real time traffic information

Update from Kumamoto City at 10:15
Anyone in Nishiku Jouseikouku is asked to evacuate IMMEDIATELY to jousei elementary school. There is fear of an immement landslide
Plug this address into google maps
熊本県熊本市西区島崎３丁目１２城西小学校

Asahi Shimbun has shared information about our page!
Hopefully they help spread the word about how critical it is for local authorities to provide emergency information in English and/or other languages, too.
For those of you who can read Japanese, their timeline might be worth following.

阿蘇・天草地方に暴風警報 │ くまにちコム
熊本日日新聞社　公式サイト。熊本のニュースを中心に温泉やグルメ、イベント情報も掲載。

Any Canadians who would like to share their story about the Kumamoto Earthquake - Please contact us. CBC would like to speak with Canadian citizens.

Post

Thanks to Mamy Take
Updating:News about 2016 Kumamoto earthquake (Especially for foreigners in Japan) - Yahoo!ニュース
A magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture early Saturday, killing at least 20 people. The total number of deaths since Thursday evening to 30 more people. Providing the information such as utilities and infrastructures in English for foreigners in Japan.

Places to get gas

William here. Kirk and I were on Kiwi TV. Nothing like a major catastrophe to garner air time. In my humble opinion, Kirk is both more handsome and eloquent than I - but then, I'd just spent the night aiding mothers and children. http://www.newshub.co.nz/world/magnitude-71-quake-strikes-japan-2016041605#axzz45xpV9v6c
New Zealand, TV3

Places you can get food and goods!!
Tag: Gettinghelp

Transportation Update
The following train lines have been suspended until further notice:
Kyushu Shinkansen all lines
JR Kyushu local lines
Hisatsu Orange Line
Kumamoto City Shiden
Minami Aso Train line
Kumagawa all lines
JR Houhi line will likely be suspended much longer since it went off its track (only the conductor was on board and he's fine)
All flights from Aso - Kumamoto are cancelled tomorrow.
As for the high speed road, it's closed from Ueki to Ebino.

The graphic in this article is interesting, showing the north-eastern progression of the main earthquakes across the island. Let's hope they just kinda keep going that direction and never come back. http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20160416046.xhtml

If anyone is in need of water and can make it to Kikuchi, please fill as many bottles as you would like at my place!
I also have electricity to charge devices.
-Sara

A live video steam that may be of interest:
https://live.line.me/r/channels/458/broadcast/3581
ホウドウキョク熊本地震報道特番 - LIVE

Here's a video from NBC news that includes coverage of the aftermath of the second bigger quake last night. There's also a bit of an interview with me (Kirk). I have a nervous habit of smiling, even when I talk about serious subjects, a problem that my family thoughtfully pointed out to me when they saw the video. ;)
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/aerial-video-show-extent-of-japan-earthquake-damage-667172931775
Aerial Video Shows Extent of Japan Earthquake Damage - NBC News
Video from a Japanese military helicopter shows landslides and collapsed roads caused by the second strong quake to hit Kumamoto in as many days.

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE!!
JR lines are expected to run normally from tomorrow morning.
Transportation Update:
Airport closed all day.
The expressway is now open from Ueki going north towards Fukuoka. Everything else is closed (all the way to Ebino)
-Sara via Roland Carlos

Kirk here. Here's an image of the megashock that rocked Kumamoto City last night. It was magnitude 7.1 on the Richter scale (or has it been upgraded a bit since the first report?) and it was 6-upper in Obiyama were is was working at my desk.
Later, I heard that the quake is comparable to the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995. I can see why.
http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/quake/20160416014014395-160125.html

Kumamoto City will collect garbage Saturday and Sunday with a blind eye towards sorting and correct bags. Now would be the time to get rid of all that junk you could never quite classify.