Hualien officials target two-week demolition for Uranus

HUALIEN (TVBS News) — The demolition of the Uranus building in Hualien City, which suffered damage from a 7.2 magnitude earthquake last April 3, continued on Monday (April 8) and is expected to be finished within two weeks. 

Earlier that day, Hualien Construction Department Director Teng Tzu-yu explained that the demolition is being carried out from the top down, with each floor removed separately. "The lower the floor, the faster the demolition progresses," Teng explained.

Demolition efforts began last Sunday evening, with six steel beams installed to support the 10-story structure against further aftershocks. Teng emphasized the round-the-clock operation of demolition machinery. By Monday, the front of the ninth floor had been demolished, necessitating the removal of one support beam.

Excavators are also being used to clear personal items from the area. Undamaged belongings are handed to the police, allowing residents to reclaim their possessions and minimize loss. A 7.2 magnitude quake hit Hualien at 7:58 a.m. on April 3, leading to 13 deaths, 1,140 injuries, and six missing persons, including a couple from Singapore with Australian passports and four locals.