Taiwan Church News
3682 Edition
Sept. 19 ~ 25, 2022
Headline News
PCT Responds to 6.8 Max. Severe Quakes at Eastern Taiwan
Reported by Lin Yi-yin
From Sept. 17 to 19, a series of earthquakes peaked at 6.8 max. severely rocked eastern Taiwan. This strong earthquake caused one cement factory worker killed, over 170 people injured, one building collapsed, a train derailed, dozens of school buildings damaged and thousands of family in black-out.
To organize a first aid operation for the quake victims after initial casualties were reported, the PCT Church and Society Committee immediately contacted the Eastern Presbytery, Bunun Presbytery, ‘Amis Presbytery respectively at eastern Taiwan to learn the damages and demands of local communities.
Rev Namoh Arang, director of Church and Society Committee of ‘Amis Presbytery, reported that most of the main-avenues connecting the Talampo community to outside townships were all damaged and the community was in a back-out due to electric poles lied flat and power cables ripped off. In addition, the gound level of Cilakesay Presbyterian Church was ruptured up and seriously tilted, causing a great concern of the safety of the congregation hall and pastor house.
Rev Lumav Mangququ, director of Church and Society Committee of Bunun Presbytery, expressed the church building of Panitaz Presbyterian Church was seriously cracked and damaged. Roads were blocked among tribal communities including Samuluh, Vahu, BulBul, Lito.
Rev Ma Kuo-shuan, director of Church and Society Committee of Eastern Taiwan Presbytery, said many church buildings and their walls were cracked, ripped or even collapsed. The inflicted churches included Fu-Li Church, Tong-Chu Church, Tong-Li Church, Yu-Li Church, Mount Carmel Church and Shin-Kang Church.
Except arranging first-aid rescue and drone services, like offering water and food packages, to reach those affected PCT church members in isolated tribes, Rev Lin Wei-lien, secretary of the PCT Church and Society Committee, expressed that the PCT would also give financial support the quake-inflicted families to rebuild their house if collapsed or damaged. Meanwhile, after a meeting of the steering PCT central committee, the PCT officials will launch an itinerary to visit the earthquake victims with financial aids and pastoral care.
Translated by Peter Wolfe
