Efforts Underway to Rescue Over 100 Trapped Individuals After Powerful Taiwan Earthquake

Rescue teams on Thursday were working hard to help over 100 people who were stuck overnight in eastern Taiwan after the strongest earthquake in decades hit the island. The number of injured people had gone over 1,000.

Aftershocks were still happening on the island the day after the powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit just south of Hualien County. This area was the most heavily impacted, with at least nine people losing their lives, buildings collapsing, and landslides occurring.

Taiwanese officials have cautioned that aftershocks with a magnitude as high as 7 might persist until the week's end.

Hualien resident Hong Changyi shared with CNN that his liquor store was located in one of the buildings that collapsed due to the earthquake.

"My heart sank as I saw all my belongings, including my supplies on the bottom floor, completely destroyed," he shared. "It's hard to process the fact that everything I've worked for has disappeared."

"It's heartbreaking to witness the shops that have been running for more than ten years vanish in just one morning," he continued. "However, the most important thing is that everyone is safe, and for that, we are grateful."

Workers demolish a damaged building following the earthquake, in Hualien, Taiwan April 4, 2024.

Workers demolish a damaged building following the earthquake, in Hualien, Taiwan April 4, 2024.

Despite the size of the earthquake, the number of casualties and extent of damage are surprisingly low. Nine people have lost their lives, while 1,050 individuals have been injured. Additionally, 46 people are currently missing or unreachable. According to Taiwan’s National Fire Agency, there are still 101 individuals trapped or stranded, with rescue efforts underway.

Authorities are currently prioritizing the rescue of over 60 individuals who are stranded in a quarry in Hualien. Efforts are also underway to reach those who are isolated in the surrounding mountain gorges, which are a popular destination for hikers.

Unfortunately, one person lost their life due to rockfall in a different quarry. However, six other workers were successfully rescued. A dramatic video from the fire agency captured a helicopter airlifting them from a narrow outcrop of rock located high up in the mountains.

“There were an abundance of rocks, resembling bullets raining down on us. We felt completely lost and terrified,” shared a worker who was saved from Zhonghe open-air mine with CNN affiliate SET News.

A rescue worker stands near the cordoned off site in the aftermath of an earthquake in Hualien, eastern Taiwan on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

A rescue worker stands near the cordoned off site in the aftermath of an earthquake in Hualien, eastern Taiwan on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

Johnson Lai/AP

Drone footage from CTS, a CNN affiliate, captured workers at the damaged quarry standing on the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the gorge.

Fifty employees of the Silks Place Hotel Taroko were among those trapped. They were on their way to work in minibuses when the earthquake struck. On Wednesday, three workers were finally able to reach the hotel and confirm that everyone else was safe, as reported by the Central News Agency.

Video footage released by the fire agency on Thursday showed hotel staff trapped in a road tunnel, with their van visibly damaged. A voice can be heard confirming their discovery. The Hualien fire service mentioned that rescuers were waiting for roads to be cleared before entering the tunnel, where an additional 20 tourists were also stranded, as reported by CNA.

The extent of the earthquake damage is still being evaluated, with road closures and some rail services being affected, limiting access to the quake's epicenter in Hualien County.

Videos and images revealed numerous collapsed buildings in Hualien, as well as sections of the Suhua highway that were either completely destroyed or blocked by large boulders and rockfall.

In response to the ongoing threat of aftershocks causing further damage, some residents in Hualien opted to spend the night outdoors. According to Reuters, people slept in tents at a sports ground that had been repurposed as a temporary shelter.

Earthquake affected people enter a tent at a temporary reception center at a local school in Hualien on April 3, 2024.

Earthquake affected people enter a tent at a temporary reception center at a local school in Hualien on April 3, 2024.

Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images

“The aftershocks were terrifying. It’s non-stop. I do not dare to sleep in the house,” a 52-year-old Hualien resident, surnamed Yu, told Reuters.

Details have been revealed about the victims of the earthquake, with the majority losing their lives due to falling rocks. This includes hikers, road workers, and individuals at scenic spots in mountainous regions, as reported by Central News Agency on Thursday.

According to CNN affiliate SET, a tragic incident occurred in Hualien where a woman lost her life in the partially collapsed Uranus building. She had managed to escape initially but returned to rescue her beloved pet cat.

Six workers from Zhonghe quarry, along with 11 tourists - including three foreigners - at Swallow Grotto in Taroko Gorge National Park, and 75 people stuck in tunnels in Hualien County were all rescued, as reported by Hualien Fire Bureau and Central News Agency.

According to the Central Weather Administration, Wednesday's earthquake is the strongest to strike Taiwan since 1999. Back then, a 7.7 magnitude quake hit south of Taipei, resulting in the deaths of 2,400 individuals and injuring 10,000 others.

Debris surrounds a titled building a day after a powerful earthquake struck in Hualien City, eastern Taiwan, Thursday, April 4, 2024.

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Debris surrounds a titled building a day after a powerful earthquake struck in Hualien City, eastern Taiwan, Thursday, April 4, 2024.

ChiangYing-ying/AP

The damage and number of deaths from Wednesday's earthquake are significantly less. Everyday life in Taipei has mostly gone back to normal on Thursday, but those closer to the epicenter are dealing with a long clean-up process.

According to local media, Taiwan's high-speed rail services are back up and running on all lines, with teams working hard to clear debris in Hualien.

Lin Chih-cheng, a member of Taiwan's Professional Civil Engineers Association in Hualien, mentioned that 100 buildings have been identified as dangerous. Demolition has begun on around twelve of these unsafe buildings.

Taiwan, an island located east of mainland China, has a population of approximately 23 million people. The majority reside in the developed cities on the west coast, with the capital being one of them.

Hualien County, located on Taiwan's east coast, is sparsely populated and characterized by its mountainous and remote areas. Around 300,000 people call this county their home. In 2018, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck near this region, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 17 lives and causing injuries to over 300 individuals.

Reporting for CNN was provided by Wayne Chang.

Editor's P/S:

The article paints a vivid picture of the devastation wrought by the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Taiwan. While the extent of damage and number of casualties is relatively low compared to previous earthquakes in the region, the impact on local communities is profound. The collapse of buildings, landslides, and road closures have left many people without homes, businesses, and access to essential services.

The resilience and spirit of the Taiwanese people in the face of adversity is heartwarming. Despite the tragedy, they remain focused on helping each other, with rescue teams working tirelessly to free those trapped in collapsed buildings and landslides. The government is prioritizing the safety of citizens, implementing measures to assess damage, provide shelter, and restore transportation and infrastructure. The international community has also expressed its support and willingness to assist in the relief efforts.