Rescuers in Taiwan are working diligently to recover two bodies buried under boulders on a hiking trail in Taroko National Park, following the country's strongest earthquake in 25 years. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.4, struck off Taiwan's east coast on Wednesday morning, claiming the lives of at least 12 individuals and leaving 10 others missing.
On the Shakadang Trail, where the recovery efforts are focused, four people are still unaccounted for, including a family of five. Despite the challenging terrain and ongoing aftershocks, search and recovery operations are set to resume with the aid of heavy equipment.
Over 600 individuals, with approximately 450 at a hotel within Taroko National Park, are currently stranded due to rockslides and other damages caused by the earthquake. Survivors have recounted terrifying experiences of being trapped by falling rocks, with some stuck in tunnels until rescue teams could reach them.
In the city of Hualien, efforts are underway to carefully dismantle a building that was left leaning dangerously over a street. The relatively low number of casualties from the powerful earthquake has been attributed to Taiwan's strict construction standards and extensive public education campaigns on earthquake preparedness.
Notably, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in 1999 resulted in the tragic loss of 2,400 lives, underscoring the importance of disaster readiness measures. The two bodies recovered on the Shakadang Trail on Friday have yet to be identified, as authorities continue their work amidst the challenging conditions.
