April 6th 2024.
In the aftermath of the largest earthquake Taiwan has seen in decades, hundreds of people are still trapped and stranded. The earthquake struck on Wednesday, leaving more than 600 people in various locations cut off by rockslides and other damage. Among them, about 450 individuals are stranded at a hotel in Taroko National Park, known for its rugged mountainous terrain.
Rescue teams are working tirelessly to recover trapped bodies, including two individuals who were found beneath boulders on a hiking trail. Sadly, four others remain missing on the same trail, called Shakadang Trail. The earthquake, measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, has already claimed the lives of at least 12 people, with 10 others still unaccounted for.
According to Taiwanese media, the two bodies found on Friday have not yet been identified. Survivors have described how they were trapped in tunnels by falling rocks, until rescuers were able to free them. In the city of Hualien, a building was left tilting over a street and is now being carefully demolished to prevent further danger.
Despite the severity of the earthquake, the number of fatalities remains relatively low. This has been attributed to the strict construction standards in Taiwan and the widespread public education campaigns on earthquake safety. However, this recent disaster has been described as the largest seismic shift in decades, with the last major earthquake occurring in 1999 and claiming the lives of 2,400 people.
The rescue efforts are ongoing, with teams searching the Taroko National Park for survivors. Meanwhile, demolition work is underway at the collapsed building in Hualien. People who were isolated due to the earthquake have been rescued by helicopter and are now safely on the ground.
The earthquake struck about 11 miles south-southwest of Hualien and was approximately 21 miles deep. Several aftershocks followed, with one measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale and being only seven miles deep. Generally, shallower quakes cause more surface damage. The initial earthquake also triggered a tsunami warning, which has now been lifted.
For many residents, earthquakes are a common occurrence in Taiwan. However, this one was particularly terrifying. One Taipei resident, Hsien-hsuen Keng, shared, "Earthquakes are a common occurrence, and I've grown accustomed to them. But today was the first time I was scared to tears by an earthquake. I was awakened by the quake, and I had never felt such intense shaking before."
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