Taiwanese authorities are battling to rescue over 127 people trapped in collapsed tunnels and landslide-stricken mountain roads following a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake. The quake, the island’s strongest in 25 years, has claimed at least nine lives and injured over 900.
Hualien, along the rugged eastern coast, was hardest hit, with damage to buildings, roads, and train lines hindering rescue efforts. Landslides are posing a major challenge, with dozens trapped along the treacherous coastal routes.
Rescue teams are focused on reaching 77 people trapped within the Jinwen and Qingshui tunnels, where sections of the road have collapsed. The fate of those inside remains uncertain.
President Tsai Ing-wen has stressed the urgency of providing aid to impacted areas. Offers of assistance have poured in from allies, though Taiwan has yet to request help from China due to political tensions.
