Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Hits Taitung 台東規模5地震 都蘭村近震央影響最大

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Taitung on Oct. 31. Dulan Village, near the epicenter of the quake, reported major structural damage at a farmers association, kindergarten, and private homes. Lanyu, meanwhile, reported landslides caused by torrential rain.

Workers at the farmers association drop what they're doing and hide under their desks or race outside with their arms covering their heads as an earthquake strikes. Although there was structural damage, no one was injured.

Lee Tsai-hsia, Secretary-General, Donghe Farmers Association: “The earthquake was like being hit by an explosion.”

This conference room on the second floor is a mess. Part of the ceiling has caved in while ceiling frames and lights are on the floor. The magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Taitung County's Donghe Township at 4:38 p.m. on Oct. 31, hitting Dulan Village especially hard.

Lin Ke-ming, Principal, Affiliated Preschool of Xinglong Elementary School: “The earthquake was like being hit by an explosion.”

The ceiling also collapsed at a preschool in Xingchang Village, damaging computers and equipment. The principal says he was in his office when the earthquake hit and he dove under a desk for cover. Fortunately, the students had all gone home by that time. Damage repair will be a major hurdle to overcome in Dulan.

Mr. Lin, Dulan Village Resident: “I couldn't sleep last night. I was too anxious. (Reporter: “And then you see all this.”) Yes. It's heartbreaking.”

Mr. Lin was unable to sleep the entire night, especially with torrential rain coming down. His house is leaning to one side, and there are huge cracks in the floors and walls. The floors of his outhouse and shower are also gone, the power and water supply have gone out. In Lanyu, torrential rain caused numerous landslides, rockslides, and flooding to gas stations, supermarkets, and Huandao Road.

Tseng Yuan-fang, Economic Affairs Section Chief, Lanyu Township Office: “The rain has abated, and we expect to finish temporary road repairs this evening.”

The Lanyu Township Office says no injuries have been reported and it is still assessing residential damage.
 

原本還在處理公務，突然天搖地動，農會員工放下手邊工作，立刻蹲下躲桌底，還有人掩住頭部，直接衝出門。幸好沒有人員受傷，但很多設備損壞嚴重。

東河鄉農會秘書李采霞形容：「那個地震就像轟炸，被炸彈。」

二樓會議室現場一片狼藉，天花板坍落，輕鋼架跟燈架四散地面。10月31日下午4時48分，台東縣東河鄉發生規模5.0的地震，尤其靠近震央的都蘭村，更成了一大受災區。

東河鄉興隆國小附設幼兒園校長林克銘說：「像這個也是，這裡面那邊也是輕鋼架的問題。」

位在興昌村的幼兒園，輕鋼架也是大面積掉落、燈架懸掛辦公，不少電腦損壞。回想地震當下，校長還在辦公，立刻找桌椅掩蔽，慶幸當時學生已經下課返家。不過，都蘭村的居民，接下來的災後重建也是一大難題。

都蘭村民林先生表示：「睡不著，怕到。」又看到災損的樣子，覺得十分辛酸。

地震搖晃加上強降雨，林先生整晚不敢入眠。現在整棟住宅還傾斜，地板、牆面都有裂縫，超過20公尺的擋土牆通通垮掉，戶外廁所和浴室底部也被掏空，目前還遇上沒水、沒電窘境。除了台東本島傳災情，遠在離島的蘭嶼也因為受到豪雨等侵襲，包含加油站、超市，以及環島公路部分路段，都出現土石流、淹水等災情，正在全力搶修。

台東縣蘭嶼鄉公所經濟建設課長曾遠方表示：「目前的雨勢比較小了，那目前的話，整個災情的部分，大概預估到下午以後暫時可以先搶通。」

蘭嶼鄉公所允諾，在1日下午下班前，全數路段都會恢復通行。目前沒有人員傷亡，只是有沒有住宅因此受損，還有待後續清查了解。