Taiwan’s powerful most in 25 years earthquake Outcome and lessons

Taiwan Stands Strong But US$ 2 Billion absorbed or spent in aftermath of Taiwan’s powerful most in 25 years earthquake Outcome and lessons

IAt 3 a.m in Wednesday, Taiwan was awakened by an earthquake that was the strongest one in a quarter of a century for the country. Affecting the peripheral Hualien County, the effect of the seismic movement was felt across the island as apparent from the damages it caused. As the clock moved closer to 8 a. m. , the strength of the quake was shown through the number of buildings which collapsed, the people trapped and the population who were clearly shaken by the vibrations.

Yet, nine people would not survive – they were either hit by the falling debris or succumbed to the force exerted by the storm. The most beautiful and majestic scenes of Hualien which are characterized by mountain gorges and clean cuts became scenes of depression with buildings that remained leaning, their foundations washed away by the power of the quake.


In the centre of Taipei, 150 kilometres from the epicentre, urban geography suffered its own portion of devastation. Roofs are caving in and ageing structures are shedding tiles, while schools have been easily dismissing the children in an effort in avoiding further effects of the quakes whose effects are still being felt!

Sir, it was intently rushing a rescue missions as other groups worked accident sites in search of human lives trapped within the debris and others using cranes to prevent any building that has been altered structurally from collapsing. However, this was not the case and the difficulties were many; roads became overly muddy with rocks rolling down and communication binds interrupted by the quake.

In the middle of the disaster, reports of ordinary people rising to the occasion came out with neighbors and volunteers using hammers to try and ‘rescue ‘ people who were still inside the rubble of collapsed buildings. People were literally carried in through the broken glass windows, through half opens doors, and their ordeal, their enormous capacity to fight against all odds a dramatic symbol of the strength that resides in man.

For many such things, the incidents of that dreadful morning destroyed an image of being all prepared. Although most people in Taiwan feel that they are prepared for such an event in the event of an earthquake, the power of the earthquake overwhelmed even the most careful of citizens. According to the survivor, the shocks were so severe that they induced a basic, untouched terror.

Families from the region are in a state of mourning and as the nation tries to come to term with the result of the quake, then death and the losing of sources of income is a clear indication of the vulnerability of human beings to the forces of nature. Still, amidst the debris of the buildings, stands out a message of hope, the symbol of the tenacity and unity of Taiwan’s people during the catastrophe.