Demolition begins in Hualien following 7.2 magnitude quake

HUALIEN (TVBS News) — Demolition began in Hualien on Thursday (April 4), targeting several buildings damaged in the 7.2 magnitude earthquake a day earlier. The Uranus Building on Xuanyuan Road, which houses 97 residences, tilts dangerously and threatens nearby structures.

Initially damaged in the 2018 earthquake and later restored, it now requires consolidation. Rescue efforts yesterday led to the discovery of a female teacher, surnamed Kang, who perished while attempting to save her cat. In a tearful interview, the building's chairperson lamented, "We advised her not to go in, but she went anyway. The outcome is deeply painful."

The quake has inflicted widespread devastation, with the Central Disaster Response Center reporting 10 deaths, 1,067 injuries, 660 people trapped in remote areas, and 38 missing as of 4:25 p.m. today. Among the latest casualties is a 65-year-old man, previously missing on the Xiaozhuilu Trail, now confirmed dead. Nationwide, the quake caused 2,523 incidents, underscoring its extensive impact.