When a 7.4 magnitude earthquake shook the buildings in Taiwan, a group of dedicated hospital staff rushed to aid a dozen or more newborn babies. There was no warning when the earthquake struck around 8:00 AM local time. Staff members ran to the nursery, keeping the bassinets from rolling as the building swayed back and forth. Each person grabbed several carriers, pulling them together to form a “raft” to keep the babies safe.
The epicenter of the Taiwan earthquake was about 96 miles southeast of Taipei and 11 miles south of Hualien. Reports are still coming in, but USA Today reports over 87,000 homes have no power.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen was preparing to dispatch the military to assist with rescue and recovery missions. Several buildings throughout the area have damage, and many people remain trapped.
According to a recent CNN report, nine people have died, and more than 900 have injuries. There have also been 29 aftershocks. A Tsunami warning was in place for Taiwan, the Philippines, and Japan. Tents are in use as temporary housing in safe areas.
Hospitals remain open after the earthquake and are operating normally, although they all sustained damage. According to a National Security Council representative, President Biden is monitoring the situation and is ready to offer US assistance.
The rescue operations in Taiwan will be ongoing for several days. Reports of dead and injured individuals will continue to rise until the assessment is complete. Please take a few moments to think about the Taiwanese people. We commend the hero hospital staff who ran into the nursery during the worst of the earthquake to steady the bassinets. Please share this information with friends.
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