SINGAPORE: Eight Singaporeans were among 71 foreigners rescued after they were trapped in earthquake-hit Hualien – the epicentre of Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in 25 years, the island’s authorities said on Thursday (Apr 4).
The 7.2-magnitude earthquake killed 10 people and left more than 1,000 injured.
Of the 71 foreigners rescued, six people are from the UK, seven are from the US and 25 are from Germany, said Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A Canadian and two Australians were still missing as of 4.30pm local time, the ministry added.
Dozens of missing vacationers and workers arrived at a temporary medical station on Thursday after being rescued, Reuters reported.
On arrival, the more than 30 rescued people underwent a basic medical check-up to assess a potential need for hospitalisation.
“The night was a terrible, terrible ordeal with aftershocks and tremors and rocks falling every few minutes,” Namrita, 39, who was visiting Taiwan from Singapore told Reuters.
She was later taken to hospital with her husband.
