Taiwan Struggles After Powerful Earthquake, Survivor Describes Harrowing Experience.
By Caroline Ameh
Rescuers in Taiwan are racing against time to reach over 600 people stranded in the aftermath of a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake, the most severe to hit the island in 25 years.
Survivors have described scenes of terror, with one recalling how tremors triggered rockslides reminiscent of bullets around the coal mine where he was employed.
The quake, centered near the eastern county of Hualien, has resulted in nine fatalities and left more than 1,000 injured. Helicopters have been deployed to rescue individuals trapped in tunnels and near national parks, with 34 still missing.
As communication lines were restored in mountainous regions, the number of trapped or stranded individuals surged to 660, predominantly guests and staff of a remote hotel cut off by damaged roads. Efforts are underway to provide food supplies via air drops to those marooned in these areas.
In Hualien city, relief operations are underway, with heavy machinery deployed to clear debris and shore up structures damaged by the quake. Residents recount tales of narrow escapes, with one individual describing the Uranus building leaning precariously following the quake.
The earthquake, followed by over 200 aftershocks, has hampered search and rescue efforts, with authorities anticipating more seismic activity in the coming days. The disaster has also caused power cuts and internet outages across the island.
While Taiwan is accustomed to seismic activity, locals and expatriates alike describe this quake as the most powerful in decades, surpassing the 1999 quake that claimed 2,400 lives and destroyed thousands of buildings.
