2024-04-05 18:33:48
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred in Hualien, northeastern Taiwan, on the 3rd, and rescue and search operations are progressing slowly due to continued aftershocks, landslides, and collapsed transportation networks. The number of deaths also increased from 10 to 12. The ‘golden time’ (within 72 hours after the incident) for rescue operations is also not long at 7:58 a.m. on the 6th.
According to local media, including Ziyushibo, on the 5th, the rescue team discovered two bodies under a pile of rocks in Taroko National Park, a famous tourist destination near Hualien. Authorities believed there were at least six more missing people in the area and deployed a search team.
According to the authorities, as of today, the cumulative number of injured is 1,099, those who are isolated and awaiting rescue are 671, and 16 are missing. Most of those waiting for rescue and those missing are concentrated in the Taruga National Park area. It is over 3,000 meters above sea level, the mountains are rugged, and rescues are said to be difficult.
There are also more than 500 aftershocks. In particular, the meteorological authorities said that there were 119 aftershocks where shaking was noticeable.
There are still concerns about production disruptions at Taiwan’s TSMC, the world’s largest semiconductor foundry, and negative impacts on the global semiconductor market. According to local IT media outlet DigiTimes, experts estimate that TSMC will lose at least $62 million (approximately 83.8 billion won) due to the earthquake.
Taiwanese authorities were upset that China was expressing gratitude to countries around the world on Taiwan’s behalf by mentioning ‘One China’ at a time when the damage caused by the earthquake was snowballing.
According to Reuters, Geng Shuang, China’s deputy envoy to the United Nations, claimed that at a meeting on children’s rights at the United Nations on the 3rd, a representative from another country mentioned to him that “an earthquake occurred in China’s Taiwan.” He added that he responded that he was “grateful for the concerns and condolences from around the world.” In other words, China regarded Taiwan as its territory and expressed gratitude on its behalf. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested on the 4th, saying, “We condemn China’s shameless propaganda using Taiwan’s earthquake.”
However, support from governments and celebrities continues. On the 5th, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kawakami announced, “We have decided to provide $1 million (approximately 1.35 billion won) in support to Taiwan to recover from earthquake damage.” Yoshiki, the leader and drummer of the famous Japanese band ‘X Japan’, also donated 10 million yen (approximately 89 million won) to the Taiwan Red Cross on the 4th, asking for it to be used to help victims. Famous Hong Kong rapper Tyson Yoshi also decided to donate 1 million Taiwanese dollars (about 42 million won).
Taiwanese writer Lai Heng-ja (賴珩佳), who visited Karuizawa, a famous tourist destination in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, met Korean Wave star Song Joong-ki while taking a walk and a photo taken together was also released. Lai’s side said that they were very touched when Song Joong-ki first expressed his intention to “comfort Taiwan, which is suffering from an earthquake.”
Reporter Kim Bora [email protected]
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2024-04-05 18:33:48