Hualien Buildings Still at Risk Nearly One Year After 2024 Earthquake

Some buildings in eastern Taiwan are still awaiting repairs nearly a year after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, leaving residents in limbo.

Transcript

00:00This 16-story apartment complex in eastern Taiwan has weathered almost a year since a 7.2-magnitude earthquake

00:07rammed its walls with cracks and warped its support columns.

00:11But engineers say it needs major reinforcements.

00:14And the people living here are frustrated that so many months on, nothing has been done.

00:24The local Hualien County government has promised help for the Hesheng Jiangshan complex.

00:29But that hasn't come through yet.

00:44The trouble is that since the earthquake, the wheels of local government have turned slowly.

00:49A committee in charge of funds for damaged buildings has met only two times over the past year.

00:54The county says bureaucracy is holding things up.

00:57Originally, people could pay for repairs and get reimbursed after work was done.

01:02Now, though, the National Earthquake Center has to give its approval for each project first.

01:07In the case of this particular complex, the county also says it can only pay for half of the repairs.

01:13The other half will have to come from the central government in Taipei.

01:28But all this delay has had serious consequences, and no one will insure the building.

01:47And the ground won't wait for repairs.

01:50Though things have quieted down a lot since last year's April 3rd earthquake,

01:54eastern Taiwan is naturally earthquake-prone.

01:57A 4.1 earthquake rattled Hualien just March 8th.

02:01Living under weakened frames, people in damaged buildings around the region are also feeling the strain.

02:07Klein Wong and John Van Triest for Taiwan Plus.