TRANSCRIPT
It was uncertain when and how David Chen would see his family again after the earthquake struck Taiwan.
The 63-year-old was part of about 50 hotel workers who went missing on a highway when the natural disaster occurred.
Now, the hotel security manager has reunited with his family after being found safe.
"I am lucky to survive this disaster. We were terrified, especially when the earthquake first happened, we thought it was all over, all over, all over, because it was an earthquake, right? And that place, the place we all knew, as I had been there for many years, it was prone to rockfalls."
It wasn't an easy journey.
Rescue workers had to locate him and other hotel workers and guide them on foot down a mountain.
Mr Chen says he had to avoid being hit by falling rocks.
"As we were leaving, rocks were still falling. We had to navigate through the gaps between the falling rocks, with the search and rescue team upfront. They were clearing the rockfalls, and the search and rescue team led us out in groups of six or seven, wearing safety helmets."
Mr Chen's mother, Chen Lan-Chih, says she couldn't stop worrying, but is glad to now see him.
"I was happy to see him. I was happy when he returned. I didn't sleep at all last night and couldn't eat anything."
Stress of the earthquake has even been felt in a maternity ward.
Staff had to keep newborn babies in their cribs safe during the event.
Supervisor, Chen Ying Chen says it was a worrying experience.
"Of course we were scared, very scared, but I think this is the natural instinct of a maternity staff. They (the babies) are patients, the safety of the babies is of utmost importance."
In a temporary medical station, dozens of missing tourists and workers arrived after being rescued.
This tourist from Singapore says her husband had to receive treatment.
"The night was a terrible, terrible ordeal with aftershocks and tremors and rocks falling every few minutes. Thankfully we had some first aid, so they got my husband some help to dress his wound."
Hualien's mayor, Hsu Chen-wei has told people how to respond to an event like an earthquake.
"In the middle of a disaster, the first thing we do is to save ourselves, then to help and support each other, and then to work continuously, as we do now."
The earthquake saw buildings collapse, with homes damaged, causing people to seek shelter in tents.
Relief workers have set aside stuffed toys, blankets and baby formula for families sheltering in an elementary school in Hualien.
Chen Chin-Ming and his family says it is now too dangerous to live in their apartment.
"The home has become like this, when it was originally a good home. It feels sad that there is no way to live in this house anymore. Why did my home change like this? I wanted to protect the family because I am the husband, but instead, the home turned into this, I feel sad and stressed. I did not provide my family with a safe place to live. There is a lot of pressure in my heart, in this situation, and I am afraid that my son and wife will have to live in a place of fear."
Tai Yun-fa is a structural engineer who's part of a team developing quake-resistant building materials.
He says building design in the country could be better.
"Buildings in Taiwan are basically required to be earthquake-resistant because there are basic regulations in place. That is to say, regulations are regulations but in terms of design, they need to stipulate sufficient steel bars strength. However, when constructing and designing, (they) used the lowest priced option. With the lowest price, you can't get the best quality, so of course the quality is poorer - this is the main risk."
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake is the largest to hit Taiwan since 1999.
Hostel co-owner Hugo Peng says the earthquake is making a significant impact on his business and tourism across Hualien.
"All our guests are safe but there are several still missing, they were (a group of) four and they went to Taroko, so we both are very very worried about our guests. But luckily our hostel was not heavily damaged structurally but the business is going down. Because the train was not working and people are worried about the dangers of aftershocks so all the bookings were cancelled."
