Helicopter Rescues Stranded Individuals
A helicopter rescued six people stranded in a mining area after Taiwan’s worst earthquake in 25 years, while hundreds of aftershocks shook the eastern region near its epicentre, forcing scores more to seek cover outside.
Rising Injuries and Rescues
The number of those injured in Wednesday’s 7.2-magnitude earthquake has risen to 1058, according to authorities, and the majority of the about 50 hotel staff who were marooned on a highway on their way to a resort in Taroko National Park have been found.
The fire brigade reported that 646 people are still trapped, the most of whom are in hotels in the park, a popular tourist destination.
Infrastructure Recovery Efforts
Work on the Taroko road, also known to be the cross-island highway, which connects Hualien to Taiwan’s west coast, continued.
The railway line to Hualien reopened ahead of schedule on Thursday, although one rural station north of the city remained closed owing to damage, according to the railway administration.
Casualties and Preparations
The death toll from Wednesday’s offshore earthquake remained at nine, as inhabitants in Hualien county, which is mostly rural and thinly inhabited, prepared to go to work and school. Buildings rocked fiercely in Taipei, the capital, but there was little damage and disturbance.
Aftershocks and Community Response
Those trapped in buildings in the worst-hit city of Hualien have all been rescued, but many locals were scared by more than 300 aftershocks and spent the night outside.
“The aftershocks were terrifying,” said Yu, a 52-year-old lady who only used her family name.
“It’s nonstop.” I would not dare to sleep in the house. She slept in a tent on a sports field being used as temporary shelter because she was too afraid to return to her apartment, which she characterized as a “mess”.
Residents’ Struggles
Dozens of residents stood outside a seriously damaged 10-story building in the city, hoping to enter and rescue their possessions.
Clad in helmets and supervised by government personnel, individuals had 10 minutes to collect valuables in large garbage bags, however some saved time by hurling belongings out windows into the street below.
“This building is no longer livable,” said Tian Liang-si, a fifth-floor resident, as she raced to retrieve her laptop, family photographs, and other essential goods.
She remembered the moment the quake hit, with the building lurching and furniture tumbling as she tried to save the four puppies she kept as pets.
“I’m a Hualien native,” she told Reuters. “I’m not meant to fear earthquakes. But it was an earthquake that scared us.”
Earthquake Details and Impact
The earthquake struck at a depth of 15.5 km, just as people were leaving for work and school.
Strong vibrations in Taipei caused the metro system to temporarily close, although most lines resumed service on Thursday.
President-elect Lai Ching-te stated to reporters that the government’s first goal was “to rescue people”.
Military and Infrastructure Damage
Taiwan’s air force said six F-16 fighter jets were slightly damaged at a major facility in the city from which jets are frequently dispatched to repel intrusions by China’s air force, but the planes are likely to return to service shortly.
According to Chinese official media, the quake was felt in the southeastern province of Fujian, and a Reuters witness reported that it was also felt in Shanghai, the commercial hub.
Power Restoration and Seismic Ratings
Aftershocks were still felt in Taipei, with over 50 reported, according to weather officials.
The majority of power has been restored following the quake, according to electricity operator Taipower, with the island’s two nuclear power plants remaining undamaged.
According to the official Central News Agency, the quake was the largest since a 7.6 magnitude in 1999, which killed over 2400 people and damaged or destroyed 50,000 buildings.
Taiwanese weather officials rated Wednesday’s quake in Hualien as “Upper 6,” or the second-highest level of severity on a scale of 1 to 7.
According to experts, such earthquakes cause walls to collapse unless they are made of reinforced concrete blocks, and individuals are unable to stand upright and must crawl to move.
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