Rescue Efforts Underway in Taiwan After 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake

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SeeRescue Efforts Underway in Taiwan After 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake

 

Overview:

  1.  A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan’s eastern coast, killing at least nine and injuring over 900.
  2.  127 people are trapped in collapsed tunnels and on mountainous roads.
  3. The epicenter was 18km south of Hualien city, with tremors felt in Taipei, over 100km away.

 

Impact and Damage:

  1.  Strongest quake in Taiwan in 25 years.
  2.  Triggered tsunami alerts in nearby Japanese and Philippine islands, later retracted.
  3.  Most damage in Hualien, with buildings collapsed, roads blocked, and train lines disrupted.

 

Eyewitness Accounts:

  1. Ocean Tsai from Hualien described the quake’s strength, minimal damage at home.
  2. Social media filled with footage of landslides along the coast, causing significant damage.

 

Rescue Operations:

  1.  77 people trapped in Jinwen and Qingshui tunnels in Hualien.
  2. Unclear how long they will be trapped or if they have food, water, or communication.

 

Taipei Impact:

  1.  Taipei shook violently, with collapsed buildings, evacuations, and smashed vehicles.
  2.  Power cuts and internet outages reported across the island.

 

Geographical Challenges:

  1. Taiwan’s mountainous east, where Hualien sits, is sparsely populated and historically cut off.
  2. Since the 1930s, roads and tunnels have connected the area to the rest of the island, but it remains challenging to reach.

Rescue Efforts Underway in Taiwan After 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake

Natural Wonders and Casualties:

  1. Taroko National Park, near Hualien, is a stunning area popular with tourists.
  2. Three hikers died, and 50 trapped are hotel staff transported ahead of a long weekend.

 

Aftershocks and Response:

  1. Earthquake hit at 07:58 local time, with at least nine aftershocks.
  2. President Tsai Ing-wen emphasized the need for accurate information and timely assistance.
  3. Taiwan received offers of aid from allies like Japan and Paraguay but declined assistance from China.

 

Historical Context:

    1. While Taiwan has a history of quakes, this is the strongest in decades.
    2. The last major quake in 1999, at 7.6 magnitude, killed 2,400 people and destroyed 5,000 buildings.

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