Hundreds of Visitors Stranded on Sixty Rock Mt. in Hualien 金針花季遇強震 六十石山逾400人受困

The earthquake caused various landslides on Sixty Rock Mountain in Hualien. At least 400 visitors were stranded in the mountains. One road cleaning worker got hit by fallen rocks and was sent to the hospital. 

Trees were uprooted by the great earthquake. Fallen rocks everywhere blocked traffic both-ways. A gigantic rock that weighed hundreds of kilos even came crashing down onto the road, creating a huge hole. A car was also severely damaged by fallen rocks and trees. The situation in Sixty Rock Mountain is more serious than expected. Road clearance operations started at 6:30 a.m. and the team worked nonstop. 

Chen Jung-tsung, Chief, Fuli Township, Hualien: “We started digging once the heavy machinery arrived. We cleared the road first before we were able to rescue some 400 people that were stuck up there. ”

Road cleaning work have already started since the first earthquake on Sept. 17. However, more rocks fell the next day from further aftershocks. One 32-year old road cleaning worker surnamed Chen got hit by a rock by accident and was sent to the hospital. Chen suffered an open leg fracture and is now being treated at the intensive care unit.

Chen Jung-tsung, Chief, Fuli Township, Hualien: “There were too many strong aftershocks. A huge rock came tumbling down from the top and the worker could not avoid in time so he got washed down along with the rocks and fallen trees.”

It is also the orange daylilies season. At least 400 visitors and their cars got stuck in the mountains. The rescue squad has saved a first batch of people out. 

All electricity was cut off in the mountains. One resident's leg got injured from house furniture that fell and landed on his foot.

Resident of Sixty Rock Mt.: “I was sitting down watching TV at the time and then BAM! The tea table fell over and landed on me. I couldn't move at all. ”

The rescue squad commander said damages in the mountain were not as serious as damages on land. Rescue team is working hard to resume traffic so goods for daily needs can be brought in as soon as possible.

樹木被震到連根拔起，大小落石阻礙雙向交通，更有數百公斤重的巨石直接將路面砸出一個大洞，沿路還可以看到有車子直接被落石砸爛。花蓮六十石山狀況比外界原先預料的還要嚴重，早上6點半開始，清除作業馬不停蹄。

花蓮縣富里鄉長陳榮聰表示：「重機械進來以後，我們就開始一直開挖，先把這個路清理完後，上面的這些400個受困的人能夠及時下來。」

917的前震，清潔隊人員接獲通報後，已經緊急上山清理路面，不料18日因為地震不斷造成土石持續崩落，32歲陳姓清潔隊員閃避不及，腿部開放性骨折，送醫後轉加護病房治療，所幸生命跡象穩定。

花蓮縣富里鄉長陳榮聰說：「因為那一陣的餘震太大了，整個石頭從山上滾下來，那我們逃避不及，所以說變成我們的清潔隊員，就直接跟著樹木一起往下沖下去。」

正值金針花季，山上至少有400人以及近百輛的車輛受困，18日晚間，警消人員也已經先救出第一批民眾。

山上電力設備全斷，除了遊客之外，當地有屋主也被家具壓傷腳。

花蓮六十石山當地屋主表示：「本來是坐著看電視，砰一下下來，就是剛好有那個茶几跟那個空間，人壓著都不能動。」

現場指揮官表示，山上坍方沒有山下嚴重，因此會先盡量趕在中午前後完成搶通，讓人員和物資能夠進入。