A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the southwest county of Hualien on April 3, leaving at least 10 dead and 1,000 injured
I am on my way to school when the car starts shaking violently, jolting up-and-down and lurching side-to-side. Still groggy from my morning stupor, I naively ask whether our car has broken down, or if a road maintenance project is underway. My dad calmly tells us to remain in the car until the shock waves subside, and then quietly continues driving. Later in the day, aftershocks are frequent and sporadic, but no one seems to bat an eye and classes continue as usual. This was the first life-threatening quake in my lifetime, but my dad had lived near the epicenter of the “921 earthquake” in 1999, which killed thousands and left over a thousand buildings collapsed.
Later in the week, I’d learn that the magnitude of April 3’s earthquake rivals that of the 921. Seismologists describe the tremor as equivalent to the energy of 32 times the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima. Fortunately, the number of casualties is much lower, with ten dead and just over 1,000 injured. Two dozen remained missing, but search and rescue efforts are well underway. The victims were mostly killed outdoors by falling rocks or landslides in the remote county of Hualien, where the earthquake occurred. Huge boulders fell along the coastal highway, the only route to the rural area in the southeast, trapping tourists, hikers, and quarry workers. In the city, stores and restaurants have reopened, and the MRT has resumed running after select stops were suspended as a precautionary measure. Emergency workers and excavators are working to repair damaged buildings, propping them up before they collapse.
Following the 1999 earthquake, Taiwan has learned its lesson. The government has reinforced disaster management regulations, increased rescue and relief coordination, and implemented tighter earthquake-resistance rules for buildings. There are serious fines and penalties for construction companies who try to cut corners in any way, as well as an increase in the building of new infrastructure. Earthquake evacuation protocols at my school, for example, proved to be swift and orderly, the result of years of drills and planning.
The recent earthquakes serve as a harsh reminder of the seismic threats that loom over Taiwan’s landscape. However, amidst the turmoil and casualties, the nation’s resilience and preparedness shine through. As communities work together to rebuild and recover, the island stands even more resilient in the face of nature’s forces.
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