Japan tsunami warnings downgraded as people describe ‘low rumbling’ as earthquake hit

‘It was really surreal feeling the floors and walls move’published at 13:14 BST

13:14 BST

Kris Bramwell
BBC News

Image source, David Park

David Park from Leeds is currently on a plane travelling
from Hakodate to Tokyo on the eighth day of a trip to Japan with his friends
Diana and Alin from Newcastle.

The 31-year-old says he and his friends felt today’s
earthquake whilst waiting in their hotel in Hakodate.

He says while they sat in the lobby, there was
“suddenly a really low rumbling”.

“All of a sudden, the building started swaying and
everyone’s phones sounded the emergency alarm alerting to an earthquake, then
about 30 seconds later, a warning for the tsunami,” he tells the BBC.

“The shaking lasted for a good 20 to 30 seconds – it was
really surreal feeling the floors and walls move and seeing the lights and
plants sway around.”

He says everyone gathered to watch the TV, where they saw
the news alerting them of the earthquake and tsunami warnings.

“Nobody seemed to panic but there was a sense of
unease.”

They left for the airport and David says lots of shops were
closed and they got stuck in traffic.

During the journey, he says they could hear tsunami warning
sirens going off.