National Fire Agency, Ministry of the Interior > Latest News > Press Releases > The strongest earthquake in the past 25 years since 921 Earthquake – the Ministry of the Interior: Rapid dispatch support from the central government

At the MOI’s ministerial meeting on 2024/04/11, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) reported on the "0403 Hualien Earthquake - Human Life Search and Response and Rescue”. According to the MOI, after the earthquake, the MOI immediately activated a Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) for dispatch and support for the disaster relief. Shortly, 2 sorties of C-130H transport aircrafts from Ministry of National Defense (MND) and 4 sorties of helicopters from Airborne Services Corps were immediately dispatched, which carried 77 special search personnel and 5 search dogs from Tainan City, Kaohsiung City, and Pingtung County, heading to Hualien for disaster relief and aerial survey. Meanwhile, vehicles with mobile base stations from Chunghwa Telecoms and the low-orbit satellite equipment from the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) help restore mobile phones and Internet communications in the disaster-stricken areas, thus setting the minds at rest for populace in the disaster-stricken areas, while demonstrating the effectiveness of large-scale earthquake mobilization exercises conducted on National Disaster Preparedness Days over the years.

As per the MOI, the 0403 Hualien earthquake shook the entire Taiwan, causing the most serious disaster in Hualien County near the epicenter. With the joint efforts across ministries and councils at the central level and with local governments, the search and rescue of people trapped in buildings was completed on the very day of the earthquake. Next, the focus was shifted to the seriously damaged Provincial Highway No. 8. Search and rescue personnel, along with Directorate General of Highways of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), attempted to approach from the east and west sides of Provincial Highway No. 8, where special search personnel were hoisted with a breakthrough aerial method to enter into Silks Place Taroko to grasp the situation of the trapped people and open a helicopter landing site. Rapid evacuation of people. Meanwhile, an apron was set up for the take-off and landing of helicopters, which help the rapid evacuation of the populace and the replenishment of supplies, where such disaster relief and response tasks constitute a part of the large-scale earthquake mobilization exercise on National Disaster Preparedness Days over the years. Each year during the 921 Exercise, different counties and cities take turns to assume the role of disaster-stricken counties and cities or the role of supporting counties and cities, together in conducting the integrated cross-unit exercise; meanwhile, improvements on the various operations have been made through after-action reviews.

A reminder from the MOI, the constant aftershocks after the earthquake have caused loose soil and rocks in mountainous areas, greatly increasing the risk of landslides. Moreover, Taiwan is about to enter the flood season and typhoon season. People must maintain disaster prevention awareness and minimize their activities in mountainous areas for the time being. Especially during heavy rain or torrential rain, or as typhoon approaches, high vigilance is required, so as the cooperation with the government's preventative evacuation operations as an early warning. Above all, safety shall be the top priority.

Emphasized by the MOI, compound disasters are increasing day by day. In case of a large-scale disaster, due to the government’s limited disaster relief manpower and the potential post-disaster traffic congestion, it may not be possible for the government to immediately rush to various disaster areas to rescue injured ones. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the populace's independent rescue capabilities such as "self-rescue" and "mutual assistance" in case of a disaster, which can significantly reduce human casualties and property losses with such immediate response taken by the populace before the arrival of the government rescue personnel. This highlights the urgency and importance of empowering the populace's ability in independent disaster prevent and protection.

Finally, as per the MOI, at present, the disaster relief mission is gradually coming to an end. Subsequently, a meeting is to be convened for improvements, with the presence of various ministries/ councils and local governments. Excellence could only be reached through constant reviews of each disaster response. In the future, further cooperation and joint efforts with the populace is necessary to better the various tasks of disaster prevention, rescue, and recovery in Taiwan.
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