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A magnitude 7.4 earthquake caused severe damage in Taiwan. Houses collapsed, power outages and landslides occurred and several people died. Blick was able to talk to several Swiss people who were surprised by the tremors. They report the initial shock – and the surprisingly calm Taiwanese.
Bode Obwegeser (20) is currently staying in the Taiwanese capital Taipei for a semester. The student was woken up by the earthquake around 8 a.m. “My bed was shaking like crazy, everything was shaking and then I saw a crack in the wall,” he describes the shocking moment. A video he sent shows a crack running across the wall to the door frame. The young man became particularly uncomfortable because, as he tells Blick, it came in several waves. “I thought: what is going on here? What should I do now? I was concerned.”
Unimpressed Taiwanese cause surprise
What surprises him is how unfazed Taiwanese are when it comes to earthquakes, which keep happening on the island – even though it was the worst earthquake in the past 25 years. “A school nearby was evacuated. “Shortly after the danger had passed, classes continued,” he said.
He also praises the safe campus building. “In the cities, all houses are largely safe, but in the countryside the situation is different,” he explains in view of the four deaths. ‘It was a shock. I immediately contacted my hometown and let my parents and friends know that everything was fine.”
Hans Jörg Blatter (72) experienced the earthquake in the city of Tainan, on the eighth floor of a hotel. He is currently on holiday in Taiwan and was in Hualien, where the earthquake epicenter was, two days ago. ‘I was just packing my bags. Suddenly a red light went on in the room and an alarm sounded. At first I didn’t even know what was going on.” The Swiss stormed into the hallway, where a deathly silence reigned. Then the earthquake started.
The train moves as if nothing had happened
‘The whole hotel was shaking and moving on its axis. It was scary. I have traveled a lot, but I have never experienced this,” said the retiree. “My first earthquake – and such a huge one!” He is also surprised by the Taiwanese’s relaxed approach to the earthquake. When Blick reaches him, he is already on his way to the next stop of his tour and on the train, which is moving as if nothing has happened. He texts friends and family that he was safe. “I forwarded them to everyone.” A friend from Peru even contacted me and was concerned.
At the time of the earthquake, Blick reader Max Schäfli was in the city of Taichung, about 140 kilometers from Taipei and about 200 kilometers from the epicenter. He says: “The earthquake lasted about three minutes. My knees were shaking! The strongest tremor lasted about a minute.” It was very scary.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
