Yuli Building's First Floor Collapses in Quake 玉里天宣道院3樓變2樓 918險辦百人法會

A three-story building belonging to Yiguandao in Yuli Township collapsed after the earthquake on Sept.18. The first floor was completely crushed, turning the second floor into the first floor. 

Mrs. Chuang, Nearby Resident: “I've never experienced such a big earthquake in my life, and I've lived a long time. It used to have three stories, now it only has two. Half of it is gone.”

A resident who lives near Tianxuan Daoyuan, a building in Hualien's Yuli Township that collapsed during the Sept. 18 earthquake, said the earthquake was both intense and violent, overturning the altar and furniture in her home. As for Tianxuan Daoyuan, she heard a loud rumbling sound and saw the three-story building collapse, leaving just two floors. The township mayor said a religious assembly to be attended by over 100 people was supposed to take place there on Sept. 18, but it was canceled.

Chen Ching-lien, Mayor, Chunri Village, Yuli Township, Hualien County: “Tianxuan Daoyuan was going to host an activity with 200 people, but for some reason it decided to postpone it. It would have been so dangerous if it had gone ahead.”

The mayor said a March earthquake caused visible damage to the building's walls, beams, and pillars. The county government sent a structural technician to conduct an investigation after receiving notification, but the mayor didn't know if any reinforcement took place. He also said this building is located on private land and the owner did not apply for a construction permit, making it illegal construction. Now, it will be torn down as it has become a dangerous building.

天宣道院周邊住戶莊太太指出：「我活到這個歲數，不曾遇到這麼大的地震，（天宣道院）3樓（高建物）剩兩（層）樓，倒一半。」

天宣道院周邊住戶形容，9月18日當天，強震來的又強又猛，家裏神明桌、傢俱倒落一地，而天宣道院就位在住家正後方，轟隆一聲巨響，3樓高的道場，直接往下沉只剩2層樓。公視記者直擊一貫道場天宣道院，垂掛在半空中的鐵皮非常危險，搖搖欲墜，只要再一個強震有可能會再掉下來。強震來時，1樓樑柱斷裂坍塌，2、3樓直接往下沉，1樓所有物品全部被壓毀，如今看到的只剩瓦礫堆。3樓高的建物少了1樓，場面相當駭人。當地里長表示，強震當天原本要舉辦一場百人法會，還好因故取消。

花蓮玉里春日里里長陳青廉表示：「天宣道院有打算是辦一個200個人的活動，因為某種原因暫緩了舉行，如果當時是繼續辦的話，實在是太危險了。」

里長表示，其實今（2022）年3月地震時，道場牆壁甚至樑柱，就出現毀損痕跡，當時有報請縣府，還找來結構技師勘驗，至於後續是否有進行補強不得而知。里長表示，這棟建物因私人土地，早年自建自蓋，並沒有申請建照，屬於違建，還好沒有傷及無辜，如今已成危樓，已報請縣府拆除。