Collapsed Building and Debris in Yuli Cleared Up 花蓮玉里因震倒塌樓房 完成拆除作業

Hualien authorities have finished tearing down the collapsed building in Yuli, cleaning up the site and repaved the roads. 

Workers began repaving the site soon as they finished taking down the three-story building that had collapsed during the Sept. 18 earthquake. The owner agreed to have the local authority demolish the building and demolition was done early morning on the 20th. 

Hsu Chen-wei, Hualien County Magistrate: “We will finish repaving the road, as well as painting the edge markings by noon today. Hundreds of water pipes have been damaged underground so the water company in Hualien is currently inspecting places that are leaking and fixing them as soon as possible.”

The 6.8 magnitude earthquake affected thousands of households in Yuli, Hualien and damaged underground water pipes. Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei said the local government has started rationing water in the area, and the water company will be sending out three water trucks to supply residents as needed.

The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) Charity Foundation Chairperson Sophie Chang also arrived in Yuli on the 20th to see what she can do for the local residents. Chang first visited Songpu Elementary School.

Sophie Chang, Chairperson, TSMC Charity Foundation: “I'm concerned. I need to come here personally and see so I'll feel better. I believe the government is doing what they can from their position. I think the people need help from non-governmental side as well.”

Chang also visited the fire department in Yuli to thank the rescue teams for their tireless efforts and services. Damages to the Yuli Bridge, which traverses the Xiuguluan River, have been repaired enough to allow traffic going one-way towards the south on the 19th. Considering that a reconstruction project for the bridge was originally scheduled for the near future, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications is currently communicating with the Directorate General of Highways to consider starting the project earlier.

機具車開進現場，快馬加鞭鋪設柏油，工人仔細修整路面，這是918強震，花蓮玉里一棟3層樓高的建物倒榻處，花蓮縣府在取得屋主同意後，20日凌晨完成拆除工作，縣府也迅速展開路面柏油鋪設，預計中午前完工。

花蓮縣長徐榛蔚表示：「今天上午會完成路面（柏油）的鋪設，還有完成邊線的標線，應該有上百件的路面下，自來水管斷裂的部分，所以自來水公司是傾全力來趕快查漏水之處。」

規模6.8強震重創玉里，埋在地下的自來水管多處斷裂，花蓮縣長徐榛蔚表示，目前採減壓供水，由於水量少，不一定能上得了水塔，因此自來水公司啟動3部水車、加水站，供民眾用水，另在不影響消防救災量能下，派出蓄水車補充河東鄉親用水。

除了透過媒體了解災情，台積電慈善基金會董事長張淑芬20日親自到玉里關懷當地民眾，首站抵達松浦國小。

台積電慈善基金會董事長張淑芬說道：「捨不得吧，我來現場我會心安一點，相信有很多地方是，政府他們有政府的立場，有在做的事情，我覺得有些人民 可能有很多地方需要我們幫忙的。」

張淑芬也前往玉里消防局慰勞救災人員。受地震影響，橫跨秀姑巒溪的玉里大橋，橋梁引道兩端路面出現裂縫，經搶修後，在19日南下線橋樑可採單線雙向通車，考量玉里大橋改建工程發包在即，交通部已請公路總局評估直接改建的可行性。