Two Australians Missing After Massive Earthquake

Heavy equipment are being used to demolish a collapsed building in the April 3 earthquake, in Hualien, Taiwan, on April 5, 2024. I-Hwa Cheng/AFP via Getty Images

The Australian government has confirmed that two of its citizens currently remain missing following a devastating earthquake that struck the Taiwanese coastal city of Hualien on April 3, causing over 1,000 casualties.

In an update on April 5, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) revealed the number of Australians affected by the 7.4 magnitude quake.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of two Australians reported missing following the earthquake in Taiwan,” it said.

“The Australian Office in Taipei is making urgent enquiries with local authorities to confirm their welfare.”

However, DFAT refused to provide further information about the missing people due to the department’s “privacy obligations.”

According to the Taiwanese government, 18 people are still missing as of April 5, including four foreigners (one Indian, one Canadian, and two Australians).

The powerful earthquake, the strongest in the region in 25 years, resulted in the death of 10 people, with 1,100 people sustaining injuries from collapsed buildings and other types of damage.

Hualien Mayor Hsu Chen-wei said the earthquake damaged 48 residential buildings, with some precariously tilted.

The quake also cut off roads, leaving hundreds stranded at a luxury hotel in Taroko Gorge National Park.

Despite rescue efforts by Taiwanese authorities, unfavourable weather conditions are currently hindering their efforts.

“We’re assessing the possibility of rain today, so our search and rescue colleagues will be equipped with rain gear. However, rain increases the risks of rockfalls and landslides, which are currently the biggest challenges we face,” captain of the Kaohsiung City Search and Rescue team Su Yu-ming said, as reported by Reuters.

“These factors are unpredictable, which means we cannot confirm the number of days required for the search and rescue operations at this time.”

Due to its geographical location near the junction of two tectonic plates, Taiwan often suffers from earthquakes.

A recent quake in 2016 claimed 100 lives, while the deadliest earthquake in Taiwan’s history occurred in 1999 and caused 2,000 deaths.

A child is given medical care at a temporary rescue command post in Hualien, Taiwan, on April 5, 2024. Annabelle Chih/Getty Images

While governments around the world have sent condolences to Taiwan, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) made a controversial move by accepting global concern on behalf of the Taiwanese government on April 4.

The incident prompted the Taiwanese government to lash out at the CCP, calling it “shameless.”

The CCP has long seen Taiwan as part of its territory and claimed the right to speak for the defacto country on the international stage despite having never ruled Taiwan.

After assuming power, CCP Leader Xi Jinping pledged to take Taiwan under Beijing’s control by force if necessary.