Taiwan’s helicopters rescue quake-stranded tourists

In the quake’s aftermath, helicopters from the National Airborne Service Corps accessed hard-to-reach locations around Taroko National Park to help stranded visitors to safety.

“Priority was given to the elderly, the weak, women, children, and people with chronic diseases,” said Taiwan news website ETtoday.

One airlift brought people from the luxury Silks Place hotel, where more than 400 tourists and staff had been stranded, according to AFP news agency.  

Rescuers are also reported to have airdropped boxes of food and supplies to a group of students, teachers, and residents at an inaccessible elementary school.

According to authorities, most of the earthquake’s victims were killed outdoors by rockfall and landslides. Four were found hiking in the Taroko Gorge while four died on mountainous roads. Another victim was working at a remote quarry at the time of the quake.

So far, CNN reports that only one person has been killed in a collapsed building – the Uranus Building in central Hualien, close to the epicentre.

Wednesday’s quake was the most serious in Taiwan since one of a magnitude of 7.6 hit the island in 1999. However, the previous death toll was much higher, with 2,400 people killed in the island’s most deadly natural disaster recorded. Widespread disaster readiness and strict building codes have been credited as preventing a larger catastrophe this time.