TRANSCRIPT
After the largest earthquake to hit Taiwan in at least a quarter century, residents are grappling with the aftermath of the event.
The magnitude 7.2 quake was centred off the coast of the rural mountainous county of Hualien.
Resident, Huang Shiao-en was still at home during the natural disaster.
"Because I live in an apartment, I felt very shaky. at first the building was side to side swing, and then it trembled up and down"
Now some residents from the harbour city in eastern Taiwan are seeking safe shelter.
Tents have been set up for people living in the area.
This resident says they don't feel safe going back home.
"We are all residents who live in this neighbourhood, the wall of our apartment is cracked, we live on the upper floors, so we don't dare to go home."
Tourist Yang Hao-rui was also shocked by the earthquake.
"The earthquake woke me up, and we just stayed around here, across from the night market. It's terrible, this earthquake is huge."
The event has killed at least nine people and injured more than 900.
According to a local emergency operation centre, more than 100 people were trapped.
At least 50 workers travelling in minibuses to a hotel in a national park are missing.
With several buildings collapsing, rescuers pulled out the body of a female resident who was buried under a crashed building’s rubble.
A 10-story structure called the Uranus Building that housed homes and shops was tilted over.
Deputy director of Hualien Fire Department, Lee Lung-sheng says it's badly damaged, and the first and second floors are now underground.
“(If we look at) the structure of the building, its ground and second floor were squeezed and distorted so the weight of the upper part of the building pressed on the trapped resident. This is the most difficult part.”
According to weather officials, more than 50 aftershocks were recorded.
The Mayor of the city, Hsu Chen-wei says the aftershocks has further impacted the large structure.
“Because there are quite a lot of aftershocks, the command post had to be moved away so it will be safe to dismantle or do further rescue in the future. And because of the aftershocks, the building tilted a little more and there are risks of collapse.”
While cleanup is underway, Taiwan has began the demolition of hazardous buildings in Hualien.
Ms Chen-wei says the process will take at least two days for all four buildings.
“All residents and businesses from buildings that are in a dangerous state were evacuated. Now the search team is only concentrating on one building where we found the remains of a lady whose surname is Tang, who will be retrieved soon."
