By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Fort Hays State University Professor Hsin-Yen Yang was preparing for a presentation on her homeland of Taiwan for the American Democracy Project this week, reminiscing about its natural beauty.
Yang, professor of communication studies, received a jarring text from her brother in Taipei that a massive earthquake had hit Taiwan Wednesday, killing 10, injuring 1,000 and toppling 100s of buildings.
"My heart sunk," she said.
Although the quake could be felt in Taipei, shaking items off of shelves, Yang's family, who live in the capital, were uninjured.
"We are heartbroken to see the devastation," she said.
She and her husband, a Kansas native, just visited the Hualien area last year, which was the quake's epicenter. It is a popular international tourist destination.
"Many foreigners go to Hualien because they see it's one of the most beautiful places on earth," Yang said. ... "In that one place, you can see the beautiful ocean, coastlines, and gorgeous, beautiful mountains. You can't find them elsewhere in the world."
It's a popular launching point for whale watchers, has hot springs and is famous for its marble quarries.
Taiwan is part of the earthquake-prone region in the Pacific Rim known as the Ring of Fire. Although milder quakes are common in the region, this one measured a magnitude of 7.4, the strongest quake in 25 years, according to the Geological Survey.
Rescuers were still searching the rubble Thursday for survivors of the quake, according to the Associated Press.
Yang said many indigenous people make the region home near the Taroko National Park.
Hundreds of people were stranded when rocks and mud blocked the roads leading to their hotel, campground or work site — though most were safe while they awaited rescue. It wasn’t clear Thursday if any people were still trapped in buildings, according to the Associated Press.
Yang said she has been thankful for social media and international news coverage of the earthquake, which has allowed her to keep up with the recovery efforts in Taiwan.
She said many of her colleagues and friends have reached out to her, expressing concern for her and her family and her friends in Taiwan.
"I'm very grateful for the warm emails, well wishes, and thoughts and prayers from all my colleagues and friends," she said.
Yang said the people of Taiwan are giving and unite in times of disaster. Other countries, including Japan, have been raising funds to help those affected by the disaster.
After the last major quake in Taiwan in 1999 in Nantou County, Yang and friends loaded a van with relief supplies and drove aid to the region that was hardest hit by the quake.
She said they stopped for gas, and the gas station owner waved them on, saying they did not need to pay because they were bringing supplies to disaster victims.
"I was almost in tears. He said this to every vehicle," she said. "I think this time Taiwan is even more prepared. Taiwan's earthquake preparedness is one of the most advanced in the world."
Yang said she believes that preparedness prevented further injuries and death.
The government is acting very quickly to relocate people displaced by the quake and address buildings rendered unsafe, she said.
The losses in Hualien will extend beyond the immediate devastation of the infrastructure from the earthquake. Because the region is a travel destination, tourism is a major driver of the local economy, Yang said.
Hotels in the region that were 70 percent booked for a long Taiwanese holiday weekend from April 4 to April 7 are now only 20 percent booked.
Yang suggested anyone who wishes to donate to the disaster relief efforts in Taiwan make donations to: Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief, which is an official organization set up by under the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan.
Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief: https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&mid=140&page=0&groupid=0