No Filipino Casualties In 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake In Taiwan Says DMW
TAIWAN EARTHQUAKE – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs said there have been no reports of Filipinos being killed or injured following a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Taiwan.
On April 3, Taiwan was struck by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, with its epicenter approximately 18km (11 miles) south of Hualien City, as reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS). Initially, some seismology agencies indicated it as a 7.5 magnitude but later revised it to 7.2.
The powerful earthquake prompted tsunami warnings in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan, leading to the collapse and precarious leaning of numerous buildings in Hualien. Experts in seismology highlighted that this earthquake is the strongest to hit Taiwan since 1999.
As a precautionary measure for worker safety, TSMC, a significant Taiwanese chipmaker supplying companies such as Nvidia and Apple, evacuated some of its factories in Hsinchu and southern Taiwan.
There are reports of substantial landslides in mountainous areas of Taiwan due to the earthquake, along with collapsed residential buildings and evacuations from homes and schools. The full extent of the damage and impact remains uncertain.
According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs, no Filipinos have been reported killed or injured as a result of the earthquake. Hans Cacdac, the DMW officer in charge, noted that approximately 1,400 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were in Hualien County, where the quake’s epicenter was located. There have been no reports of Filipinos severely affected or trapped in damaged structures.
“So far, the report [we received] is that there are no reported injuries or fatalities among our OFWs,” said DMW officer in charge Hans Cacdac.
Cacdac expressed hope for the continuity of this situation and extended prayers for those affected by the earthquake.
“We are praying very hard that it stays that way and we are also praying very hard for others affected by the earthquake,” Cacdac said.
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