Taiwan earthquake: Taipei rebuffs aid offer from mainland China as disaster toll rises to 9 dead, 934 injured

South China Morning Post ^ | 04/03/2024 | Lawrence Chung in Taipei and Xinlu Liang in Beijing

[SeekAndFind]

The Taiwanese government has rebuffed an offer of help extended by Beijing as the island contends with the aftermath of a deadly 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck on Wednesday morning, killing at least nine people.

At least 934 people are reported injured and 56 remain trapped in the quake that struck off the east coast at 7.58am and sparked tsunami warnings.

Soon after the disaster, Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council offered the island disaster assistance.

In response, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said in a short statement there was no need for the mainland to help.

“We noticed that the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office had expressed concern about the earthquake in waters off Hualien this morning. We greatly appreciate its concern, but there is no need for the mainland side to assist us in disaster relief,” the statement said.

The epicentre of Wednesday’s quake was in waters about 25km (15.5 miles) south of the eastern county of Hualien and 138km from Taipei, according to the Central Weather Bureau. The shock was felt across the island, causing buildings to collapse.

Tsunami warnings were issued on the island as well as in mainland China and elsewhere in the region.

Local media footage showed that buildings shook violently for a minute before crashing to the ground, while residents ran screaming.

Three hikers were killed by falling rocks at the famed Dekalun Trail in Taroko National Park in Hualien and a truck driver died when his vehicle was crushed by rocks near a tunnel in Hualien. In Taroko park more than 40 people, mostly tourists, were hurt and hundreds were evacuated.

At least 50 people in Hualien, Yilan, Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan were hurt after they were either hit by fallen objects or fell during the earthquake.

[SeekAndFind]

Three hikers were killed by falling rocks at the famed Dekalun Trail in Taroko National Park in Hualien and a truck driver died when his vehicle was crushed by rocks near a tunnel in Hualien. In Taroko park more than 40 people, mostly tourists, were hurt and hundreds were evacuated.

At least 50 people in Hualien, Yilan, Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan were hurt after they were either hit by fallen objects or fell during the earthquake.

The semiconductor industry on the island has been affected, with industry giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) evacuating factory areas and partially shutting down for preventive measures, according to the Hsinchu Science Park Administration, about 240km from Hualien.

[SeekAndFind]

[frank ballenger]

Those pictures of Leaning Tower of Pisa style damage make it look like far more could have died. Glad they didn’t. Lots of injuries, though.

Will those buildings crash later and endanger more people?

[Steven Scharf]

Will those buildings crash later and endanger more people?

Only those dumb enough to stand underneath them.

[janetjanet998]

Must be the engineering design that makes them tilt rather than crumble straight down?

It was several and not just one isolated incident

Here is one collapsing

Moment building collapsed in Taiwan during powerful earthquake

https://rumble.com/v4n74k8-moment-building-collapsed-in-taiwan-during-powerful-earthquake.html

[frank ballenger]

Ha.

So large areas with police tape around them will be avoided for months to come.

Better than “What’s that creaking sound?” and then looking up.

[SpaceBar]

Rebuff sounds so much more confrontational than ‘decline’.

I detect a tad of editorial bias from the Souch China Morning Post.

[frank ballenger]

RE: collapsing Taiwan building video.

One of the 911 destruction videos from the street level showed a corridor of buildings soon enveloped by dense smoke under pressure rapidly getting closer from the World Trade Center collapse blocks away. Terrible day. And all the smoke and debris in Taiwan has chemicals that shouldn’t be breathed or even touched as our New York first responders found years later.

[ETCM]

I’m no expert, but it appears to be a result of liquefaction. It’s not uncommon in some parts of the world during major earthquakes.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_liquefaction

[libh8er]

Will those buildings crash later and endanger more people?

The tower of Pisa has stood for a long time without endangering anyone. Or so we think.

[libh8er]

Convert the Leaning Tower(s) of Taipei to a tourist attraction ..?

[Samurai_Jack]

I was wondering if they would accept help from the Chin’s. Or in this case, not. Accepting help from china is going to come with strings.

[Peter ODonnell]

We send big army, help you long time.

[Gay State Conservative]

Wise decision. The world's civilized nations should be offering whatever assistance that officials need. Tell the Butchers of Beijing to go fornicate themselves.

[Gay State Conservative]

That pretty much sums it up.

[Rummyfan]

And this:

Let's Talk About All the Ways People Didn't Die in That Taiwan Earthquake

Also, The Bee reported that China offered Taiwan 100,00 troops to aid in relief but Taiwan turned down the offer.

[Carriage Hill]

Probably *liquefaction* of compacted subsoils under buildings.

[canuck_conservative]

Any “help” from Commie China includes lots of spies and military scouts

No thanks