Vietnamese people affected by the earthquake in Taiwan.

Early on April 5th, numerous aftershocks continued to occur across Taiwan (China), following the powerful earthquake two days earlier.

While we were talking, many Vietnamese people continuously received weather forecast messages through the Line chat app and the software of the Taiwan Meteorological Agency.

Stay calm and escape.

Ms. Dao Bich (43 years old, residing in La Dong, Yilan County) recounted that at 8 a.m. on April 3rd, she felt dizzy. Thinking she was exhausted from taking care of her child, she only learned from her phone ringing that Taiwanese authorities were warning her to stay away from house walls.

Included with that was a list of safe shelters – sturdy buildings stocked with water, food, and medical supplies – within a 20-kilometer radius of her home.

Earthquakes are common in Taiwan, so Ms. Bich wasn't too stressed, even though her whole family felt the tremors very strongly during the 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Hualien County. Yilan is located in northeastern Taiwan, not far from Hualien.

"My legs were shaking as if someone was rocking me. Two minutes later, the apartment building's loudspeaker announced that residents should move slowly down to the park. My 12-year-old daughter, who had been taught evacuation skills at school, instructed my husband and me to cover our heads while walking," Ms. Bich recounted.

Ms. Nguyen Minh Tu, owner of a vermicelli noodle shop in Taoyuan City, Taiwan (China), rearranges her shop to resume business after the earthquake.

Meanwhile, Le Minh Hoai (37 years old, from Thanh Hoa province) was stir-frying noodles for a food company based in Kaohsiung when the earthquake struck. Although Kaohsiung is 300 km from the epicenter, the pan was still shaken, causing all the sauce to spill. Cooking oil splattered, causing minor burns to Hoai's arm.

The company quickly turned on the loudspeakers to call for evacuation, and everyone calmly put on extra layers of clothing, lined up, and moved to the open area. The notice board displaying the regulations had fallen to the ground. The atmosphere was no different from the earthquake response drill that Hoai had learned and practiced not long ago.

Mr. Hoai explained further: "In Taiwan, we attend workplace safety training and earthquake evacuation drills every six months. When we evacuated this time, we didn't think the earthquake would be so serious. Only when we read the news did we realize it was the strongest in the past 25 years."

In Taoyuan City, located in northwestern Taiwan, many restaurant owners in the Vietnamese food street near Taoyuan MTR station have proactively moved their tables, chairs, and cooking equipment to the sidewalk as a precaution. Ms. Nguyen Minh Tu (65 years old, owner of a vermicelli with fermented fish sauce restaurant there) said that the authorities have facilitated the temporary use of sidewalks by vendors to ensure safety while aftershocks are still occurring.

Humanity in times of hardship

Thanks to her membership in the Vietnamese Association in Xinyi District (Taipei City), Ms. Ho Thi Mai received invaluable assistance when the earthquake struck. The tremors damaged the sliding door of her nail salon, trapping her inside.

After struggling for over an hour without being able to get out, she joined a group to ask for help. "Unexpectedly, nearly 60 people messaged me to inquire about my well-being and offered to help. Finally, two Vietnamese students studying abroad came and removed the door to get me out. Many people were worried and even offered to bring me food and medicine," Mai shared.

A group of Vietnamese people are taking refuge in a safe area in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, after the earthquake on April 3-4.

The earthquake occurred during Taiwan's four-day holiday commemorating Qingming Festival and Children's Day. Authorities are advising people to rest while staying updated on the situation, as there may be further dangerous aftershocks.

In just a few days, more than 20 support groups created by the Vietnamese community living in Taiwan have sprung up on the Line app. Vo Dien, a student studying in Taoyuan and the leader of the "Vietnamese Helping Each Other During the Taiwan Earthquake" group, was deeply moved by the camaraderie among compatriots living far from home, with everyone checking in and offering words of encouragement.

"Many people even suggested organizing relief efforts in Hualien after the authorities finish repairing the roads," Mr. Dien recounted.

Transportation in Hualien remains disrupted, and more than 300,000 people are receiving food and medical care. Ms. Do Thi Bach (42 years old) said she and her husband were traveling to Quang Phuc commune in Hualien county when they were stranded due to a broken subway track.

The entire family is currently staying in a low-rise hotel and has endured more than 10 aftershocks that left them feeling like they were on a boat. Local authorities have come to assist Ms. Bach and her family.

As of April 5th, the death toll from the earthquake in Taiwan has reached 12. In addition, more than 1,000 people have been injured and approximately 18 remain missing.

Approximately 400 people trapped in a hotel in Taroko Gorge, Hualien County, remain safe, and helicopters are evacuating the injured and resupplying those remaining to await rescue.

Additionally, a group of 50 hotel employees who were hiking in the park were also found safe. "The biggest challenges right now are landslides and mudslides caused by the rain," Su Yu-ming, head of the rescue team at Taroko Gorge, told Reuters.

Hai Ngoc

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nguoi-viet-trong-dong-dat-o-dai-loan-196240405211604771.htm