Helpers continue to search for missing people after earthquake in Taiwan

The worst quake in almost 25 years has caused devastation in many parts of Taiwan. A day later, rescue workers continue to search for buried and missing people.

Rescue and clean-up work continues after the severe earthquake that left at least nine dead and hundreds injured in Taiwan. Emergency services were able to bring six miners trapped in a quarry to safety, the authorities announced on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the reported number of injuries rose to 1,050. According to the National Fire Authority, around 150 people are either trapped or have no contact with the outside world for other reasons – including 64 workers in another quarry. There is no contact with 52 people, said Interior Minister Lin You-chang. These people urgently need food and water, he explained. How many of them are still alive is unclear.

According to the authorities, the search for trapped and missing people is focused on the area around the city of Hualien. Around 40 employees at a hotel in Taroko National Park in eastern Taiwan cannot be reached.

7.2 magnitude quake

The quake hit Taiwan on Wednesday morning during rush hour and was felt throughout the island with more than 23 million residents. According to Taiwanese data, it reached a magnitude of 7.2 and is considered the most severe earthquake there in almost 25 years. According to its own information, the US earthquake monitoring station recorded a value of 7.4, the Japanese authorities gave the magnitude as 7.7.

The center of the quake was just a few kilometers off the east coast near Hualien, which was particularly hard hit – also because of the relatively shallow depth of the center, only 15.5 kilometers below the earth’s surface. As of Thursday morning, more than 300 less powerful aftershocks had been recorded in Taiwan.

Germans also affected

In Taiwan’s cities, some buildings collapsed or became dangerously tilted. Traffic bridges wobbled menacingly and damage was caused to many roads. Eyewitnesses reported that they had never experienced anything like this.

Many people around Hualien were trapped in traffic tunnels or caves. Among them were two Germans who were stuck in a tunnel in a national park popular with hikers. They were freed after a few hours, according to the authorities and the Foreign Office. According to a spokesman in Berlin, the Foreign Office is also in contact with a tour group of 18 Germans who were originally considered missing. According to the information, they are doing well under the circumstances.