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S'pore actresses Zoe Tay & Huang Biren caught in 7.5-magnitude Japan earthquake during family holiday
Everyone's safe.
December 10, 2025, 03:41 PM
When the 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit Japan on the evening of Dec. 8, veteran Singaporean actress Zoe Tay, on a ski trip in Niseko, Hokkaido, with her family, was jolted awake.
In an Instagram post on Dec. 9, she shared that they were all safe.
Fellow actress Huang Biren, who is also touring Japan with her family, has prepared a bug-out bag in case of an emergency.
Jolted awake
In her post, Tay shared that they felt the tremors, which went on for about five minutes.
"We are all safe, thank you everyone for your concern," Tay wrote.
She also lamented in her post that she felt disheartened as she kept falling over during her ski runs.
Speaking to Shin Min Daily News in between her runs, Tay shared that she was into bed when the tremors were felt.
"I went to bed early that night. Then, my phone went off with an alert about the earthquake. I could feel the bed and see the lights shaking. The door was also creaking. After about three to five minutes, everything fell silent. It really startled me," Tay recalled.
This was Tay's second earthquake encounter in Japan this year.
"When I visited Japan at the start of the year, I was similarly awoken by tremors. But it lasted longer this time, and I could feel the entire building shaking," she said, adding that she had never encountered earthquakes when she travelled for work.
Huang Biren also in Japan
Apart from Tay, fellow actress Huang Biren was also in Japan and felt the tremors as well.
She told Shin Min that she and her family had spent most of their time in Tokyo, but visited Enoshima on Dec. 9 and will spend today in Yokohama.
"All these places are fine. We are safe as of now. Thank you everyone for your concern," Huang said.
"At around 11pm on the night of the earthquake, I did feel the earth shaking. I could also hear the window pane wobbling. When I went to investigate, I placed my hand on the glass and could feel light vibrations," she recounted.
Huang shared that she discerned that it was an earthquake and confirmed it by checking with her family members.
"However, because it was not as serious, we just monitored the situation," the actress said.
Huang revealed that they already have a bug-out bag with food, water and winter wear, in the event an emergency does break out.
"Hopefully, things will be smooth-sailing here on out," Huang commented.
The 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck on the evening of Dec. 8 triggered tsunami warnings and advisories across Japan's northern coast.
They were lifted the following morning, but the country is on alert for a possible megaquake.
Top image via Shin Min Daily News
