HUALIEN, Taiwan. In the aftermath of Taiwan’s most powerful earthquake in 25 years, rescue efforts intensified on Thursday as teams scoured debris and worked to reach hundreds stranded by cascading boulders and mudslides. With a death toll of ten and over 1,000 injured, the quake’s impact reverberated through the island, leaving buildings tilting perilously and roads impassable.
The seismic upheaval struck during the morning rush hour, catching many off guard. Schoolchildren fled into the open, while families evacuated their homes through windows as buildings crumbled around them. Despite Taiwan’s readiness for such events, authorities didn’t issue their usual alerts, anticipating a milder tremor.
In Hualien County, close to the quake’s epicenter, about 200 residents sought refuge in makeshift shelters. The critical artery connecting the county to the capital, Taipei, remained blocked by debris, though some semblance of normalcy returned to daily life. Local rail services resumed partially, and major businesses, like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., resumed operations, according to the Central News Agency.
The toll of human loss was starkly evident, with fatalities concentrated in Taroko National Park, renowned for its stunning natural features. The impact extended beyond collapsed buildings, as landslides trapped hundreds, including construction worker Liu Zhong-da and his colleague, who found themselves ensnared in a tunnel.
“We almost got covered up,” Liu recounted, his voice laced with relief upon rescue. Elsewhere, efforts to extricate some 700 individuals stranded at a hotel faced hurdles due to damaged roads, while others grappled with uncertainty amid cracked walls and unstable structures.
The resilience of the Taiwanese spirit was palpable amidst the chaos. Hendri Sutrisno, a university professor, spent a restless night in a shelter with his family, wary of aftershocks. “We ran out of the apartment and waited for four to five hours before we went up again to grab some important stuff such as our wallet,” he shared.
As aftershocks rattled nerves, Hualien’s residents recounted the terrifying moments of the quake. “At first, the building was swinging side to side, and then it shook up and down,” said Huang Shiao-en, who experienced the tremors firsthand.
With over 400 aftershocks recorded, Taiwan grappled with the aftermath of one of its most severe seismic events in recent history. As the nation mourns the lives lost and assesses the extent of the damage, the resolve to rebuild and support those affected remains steadfast.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
