This content was originally published by Radio Free Asia, and it is now licensed for reprint.
Following a 7.2 scale earthquake that hit eastern Hualien state on Wednesday, evacuation groups in Taiwan continued to search for missing persons.
The collapse killed 10 people, injured 1, 123 and left 684 persons stranded after rock blocked highways, the Central Disaster Response Centre said Friday.
Around 200 citizens near the explosion’s center are staying in homes, with the main route to Taipei however closed.
As of Friday evening 13 individuals were also missing.
Rescue personnel are also attempting to reach the hundreds of people who are encased in caves through Hualien state’s mountains.
To aid in the treatment, the Taiwan authorities has set off the equivalent of US$ 9.37 million. The funds will be used to pay for quake-related expenses and give incentives to Hualien residents.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, a manufacturer of semiconductors, is returning to normal with the restart of 70 % of its production traces on Thursday night.
But Taiwan continues to be rocked by tremors, with 365 reported as of Thursday evening. On Wednesday, there were two waves that determined 6.5 and 6.2.
Tokyo will give Taiwan US$ 1 million to help with its treatment from the earthquake, according to Japan’s foreign minister, Yoko Kamikawa, on Friday.
Taiwan turned down the offer of help, but China offered to condolence the earthquake and expressed its apologies for it.
Some Chinese Internet users actually suggested that the People’s Liberation Army does “lie on the island” to provide relief from natural disasters. The Weibo blogging site was later deleted from the responses.
