TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A series of earthquakes caused widespread damage to buildings and transport infrastructure across Taiwan Sunday, leaving one cement worker dead and 79 people injured. The main tremor struck at 2:44 p.m. and registered 6.8 on the Richter scale.
The epicenter was at a depth of 7.0 km in Chishang Township in rural Taitung County. Still, the most devastating damage to architecture and infrastructures unfolded in Hualien's Yuli Township, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).
The tremor in the urban township toppled a residential building whose owners rented out the first floor as a 7-Eleven convenience store. Though the store clerks could free themselves after breaking one of the windows, residents upstairs weren't so lucky.
One of the family members of those trapped in the rubble continued to talk with them on the phone before firefighters could rescue them. "They are nearly unable to speak anymore," he told reporters while assuring his family members that the rescuers are moving in.
After three hours, firefighters were able to rescue four more trapped in the building, including the elderly landlords, a shopper's mother, and a five-year-old daughter.
Meanwhile, first responders also rescued three individuals from the severely damaged Gaoliao bridge that collapsed and broke into many sections, according to the Hualien County Disaster Response Center.
A cement factory worker became the first fatality of the earthquakes these past few days after getting hit by falling debris.
His colleague explained that everyone rushed to help him when the accident happened, but it was too late.
When the earthquake struck, the 42-year-old Taoyuan native was working at the Hualien factory. After the collapse, he received immediate medical attention but couldn't be resuscitated.
Public transportation systems also suffered greatly due to the series of earthquakes. According to the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA), a falling concrete platform canopy at Dongli Station struck a Hualien-Taitung Tze-chiang limited express causing a six-car derailment.
The TRA said it had safely evacuated all 20 passengers following the derailment but announced the temporary suspension of services between Hualien and Taitung due to track damage.
The Ministry of Education said that 72 schools across Taiwan had sustained damage caused by Sunday's earthquakes, with a preliminary total of NT＄4.61 million (US＄147,310) in damages reported as of 8 p.m.
