Tuesday , December 24 2024

Taiwan earthquake: Two Indians missing after strong tremors, now safe

New Delhi/Taiwan: The Ministry of External Affairs said that two Indians who were missing after the strong earthquake in Taiwan are safe. External Affairs Ministry official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that as per available information, India has been able to contact two Indian nationals in Taiwan after the earthquake and they are safe.

“Two persons, we were not able to establish contact there in view of the earthquake. But now, we have established contact and they are safe,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly briefing.

This statement of the Foreign Ministry came after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Taiwan on Wednesday. The death toll from the earthquake has risen to 10, while 38 others are still missing, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported.

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake, the most powerful in 25 years, struck the island's mountainous Hualien county during the morning rush hour on Wednesday.

More than 10 people died in the incident, while a hundred others were injured and a search operation is underway to find more than a dozen missing people.

Rescue workers recovered the man's body on Thursday and are continuing to search for 38 other people. A 65-year-old man died after falling rocks while hiking on the Jiaozhuilu Trail in Hualien County, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported, quoting the Central Emergency Operation Center.

As of 4:25 pm (local time) on Thursday, 10 people have died and 1067 have been injured in the most powerful earthquake to hit Taiwan in nearly 25 years. Apart from this, 660 people are stranded due to road damage.

According to Central News, the nine other deaths include a technician killed by falling rocks on a section of Provincial Highway No. 8, a driver killed by falling rocks on another section of the same highway, and three hikers on Dekalun Trail in Hualien County . Agency report.

One death each was reported at a mine, the Daqingshui Recreation Area on Provincial Highway No. 9, and another section on the same highway. Additionally, a woman died after re-entering a partially collapsed building in Hualien city to rescue her pet cat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of lives due to the earthquake in Taiwan and expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished speedy recovery to the injured.

He said India stands in solidarity with the people of Taiwan as they endure and recover from its consequences.

In a post on Twitter, PM Modi said, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to earthquake in Taiwan today. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured. “We stand in solidarity with the resilient people of Taiwan as they endure and recover from its consequences.”

Responding to PM Modi's post on Twitter, outgoing Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and President-elect Lai Ching-te thanked him for their support when the massive earthquake hit the island.