An earthquake shook the city of Tainan in the early hours of Saturday
Taipei: In the aftermath of an earthquake that sent jitters through the Tainan city of Taiwan, rescue workers are diligently trying to salvage people who are trapped in the ruins of a skyscraper that collapsed. The earthquake of magnitude 6.4, has left at least 14 people dead. Among the 14 deceased were a newborn baby, a little girl and two adult men. Moreover, just over 500 people were gravely injured, out of whom, 92 still remain in the hospital. The 17-storey building, located in South Tainan, has alone, in its devastation, captured nearly 30 people, who haven’t been rescued so far.
The President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, has assured of an ‘ all-out effort’ to save the people. Several shelters have been set up for those who have lost their homes in the destruction of the earthquake. Almost 800 soldiers are participating in the rescue efforts, especially at the site of the fallen high-rise, the Wei kuan complex, that was home to at least 256 people. Out of these inhabitants, 200 were rescued. On another note, at least 2 people have died in other areas of the city due to falling debris.Even then, live footage has suggested that rescue operations are growing frantic, as rescuers use ladders and climb up the perished storeys of the building to reach those trapped. What makes the operations trickier is the fact that the earthquake has struck at a particularly busy time of the year, as families come together to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Despite that, 23 rescue dogs, 16 helicopters and all the needed equipment has been deployed in the efforts. Meanwhile, the interior Affairs Minister, Chen Wei-jen, has said that the building’s rubble will be investigated to ascertain whether its construction had met the infrastructural requirements.
Those rescued so far have given accounts of their rescue. Narrated one woman, who was tapped with her two children,” Rescue workers broke through (the building) layer by layer. And they asked us to climb out but I said my children are too small to climb. So they dug a bigger hole. Then one rescue worker tried his best to climb in and take the children out. Then I slowly climbed out myself.”
Said another citizen of Tainan,”My home completely turned into debris. I didn’t know what was happening. I was really frightened as I have never seen such an earthquake.” There were many others, who managed to save themselves by using general, household tools and making ropes out of clothes. The earthquake was a shallow one and as per the Geological Survey of US, its impact could have multiplied; five aftershocks were reported, going as far as Taipei, the capital city located at a distance of 300 km. Yet, the damage does not seem to be that bad, although several large buildings have been left leaning unsteadily. Furthermore, power cuts and transport disturbances have been reported, leading to further disruptions in the New Year celebrations.
Taiwan, a country located at the juncture of two active tectonic plates has often seen such earthquakes and like last time, Beijing has offered to help. However, the level of damage seen so far doesn’t call for a lot of external help and this may yet again be a denial to China, that was accused of political vendetta that last time it offered its services in 1999, when almost 2,300 Taiwanese people died in an earthquake of magnitude 7.6.
Source: BBC
Tags: Tainan taiwan Taiwan earthquake
