Quake Damages About 370 Hualien Homes 918強震花蓮3鄉鎮災情慘 370民宅受損

The 918 earthquake caused severe damage in three townships in southern Hualien. A survey showed 370 residences sustained damage, including 76 that need to be reinforced.Tzu Chi Foundation and TSMC have committed to assisting with the repairs and reconstruction.

A mother and daughter pair who were trapped inside a collapsed convenience store in Hualien's Yuli Township during the 918 earthquake were discharged from a hospital on Sept. 28. They said they can't remember what happened after the ground started shaking, but are happy that their family can now be reunited. They also thanked all the rescue personnel.  

Ms. Ye, 918 Earthquake Victim: “It really was hard to breathe inside, and it was more painful when lying down on my side. I was lying on my stomach for about two hours, which wasn't long compared to previous disasters.”

The three Hualien townships of Yuli, Fuli, and Zhuoxi sustained extensive damage in the quake. A survey showed that 370 residences were damaged, including 76 that are no longer inhabitable and need to be reinforced. Tzu Chi Foundation and TSMC have committed to helping with the repairs and reconstruction.

Jung Yi-hung, Manager, Field Office, Public Utilities Service Dept., TSMC: “We would like to help county residents and ensure that they all have safe homes so that they can have peaceful hearts.”

Yen Po-wen, CEO, Tzu Chi Foundation: “So far, there are a total of 76 residences that were assessed to have sustained relatively severe damage. Tzu Chi will repair or rebuild all of them.”

Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei thanked the foundation and the company for their assistance. The plan is for TSMC to take charge of damaged homes in Fuli Township's Zhutian Village and areas to the north and for Tzu Chi to take charge of Zhuoxi and Yuli townships. The county government will handle any demolition work.

Hsu Chen-wei, Magistrate, Hualien County: “Anything in danger of collapsing or posing a risk to public safety will be demolished. The county government will handle the demolition.”

Tzu Chi Foundation has also sponsored four schools that sustained extensive damage. Repairs to the homes of middle to low income households and solitary senior citizens will be prioritized, and the foundation will send volunteers to check up on residents.

918大地震受困在玉里鎮倒塌便利商店的母女今（28）日出院，面對重生臉上還是有些驚恐，回想起當時天搖地動後接著就一片黑暗，所幸全家人都平安現在能團聚，非常感謝救難人員。

918地震災民葉小姐說道：「裡面真的呼吸有限，側躺的時候比較難受，趴著大概兩小時，其實比起以往的救災，我們算快了。」

強震讓花蓮南區玉里鎮、富里鄉、卓溪鄉受損嚴重，經鑑定後彙整共有370間房屋受損，其中已無法居住被開紅單和黃單的就有76戶，慈濟基金會和台積電願意協助修繕與重建。

台積電公共設施服務部場務處經理榮一弘表示：「我們是希望能夠幫助縣民有一個平安的家，還有一個平安的心。」

慈濟慈善基金會執行長顏博文說道：「受創比較重的紅單跟次重的黃單，到目前為止總共是76戶，慈濟會全部來做修繕或重建。」

縣長徐榛蔚感謝宗教與民間企業幫忙，初步協調富里鄉台9線竹田以北的受損房屋由台積電負責，卓溪鄉、玉里鎮則是由慈濟基金會來協助，縣府負責拆除。

徐榛蔚表示：「有隨時倒塌，妨礙到公共安全的部分，這個我們就會全部把它拆除，拆除的部分縣府來拆除。」

除此之外，慈濟基金會還認養了4個受創比較嚴重的學校，另外中低收入戶和獨居老人的房屋也會優先修繕，並派志工前往關心，安撫災區居民的心。