Hualien County

Boulder severs tracks on Taiwan’s east coast line: frequent landslides affect road and rail links since April 3 earthquake

boulder severs railway tracks
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

Taiwan Railways reopened two-way traffic July 3, following a landslide that blocked road and rail links between Yilan and Hualien July 1, but traffic is reduced to a single line again today after a massive boulder fell onto tracks in the landslide-affected area. Railway personnel reported that a huge boulder fell onto the railroad, severing train tracks between Heren and Chongde train stations at 6:21 am today, July 4. Passengers travelling on the line were told to expect 15-20 minute

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Train derails after landslide on Taiwan’s east coast: passengers evacuate in tunnel

passengers evacuate train in tunnel
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

The driver of an intercity express train and six passengers suffered minor injuries after a train derailed following a landslide at the entrance of a tunnel on Taiwan’s east coast line late this afternoon, Friday, June 21. According to reports, the Ziqiang Express EMU 3,000 express train, service number #229, was hit by rocks as it passed through the Heren Tunnel between Heren and Chongde Stations in Hualien County’s Xiulin Township at 4:50 pm. Pictures and video uploaded to social

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Human remains found in tunnel 3 years after train disaster

remains and belongings of victims found in railway tunnel
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

Grieving family members of the victims of one of Taiwan’s worst train disasters had old wounds reopened for the second time after human remains and belongings were found in a railway tunnel in Hualien County recently. The advocacy group “Tears of Taroko,” formed by family members of victims of the April 2, 2021, Hualien Train Derailment, issued a press release this morning, May 8, informing the public that a search of the Qingshui Tunnel had uncovered the remains of 11

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Rainy season front brings heavy rain to Taiwan: East coast road and rail links cut by landslides

landslide blocks east coast line at Chongde Station
Weather 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A rainy season front is expected to bring heavy rain to Taiwan for the next week, and has already triggered landslides in areas destabilized by an earthquake earlier this month. Road and rail services between Yilan County and Hualien City are cut off after a series of landslides in Xiulin Township, Hualien County this afternoon. According to Taiwan Railway Corporation, a landslide has covered both northbound and southbound tracks between Chongde Station and Heren Station. An EMU 3000 express train

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Express train derailed by fallen rock as earthquake aftershocks continue to rattle Taiwan’s east coast

damaged derailed Puyuma express train
Earthquakes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

An express train bound for Taipei City derailed after hitting a boulder that fell onto the tracks in last night, but fortunately nobody was injured in the accident. According to reports, the Puyuma express train #445 from Taitung to New Taipei City hit a boulder and derailed near Heping Train Station in Xiulin Township in Hualien County at 9:10 pm. The accident caused traffic in both directions of the railway to be stopped. None of the 146 passengers or staff

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Big earthquake on Taiwan’s east coast felt across island: reports of damage and casualties

partially collapsed building in Hualien City
Earthquakes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Story still being revised and updated: 12:58 pm. Four people have died, and 98 are injured. Many people heading to work and school around Taiwan this morning had their morning commute interrupted when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the east coast, causing shockwaves that shut down train and metro services in the capital Taipei and other cities. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the earthquake struck at 7:58 am, at a depth of 15.5 kilometers, 25 kilometers south-southeast of Hualien

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Drunk driver slightly injured after crashing into east coast express train

damaged car after hitting train
Traffic Accidents 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A man driving while over the legal alcohol limit crashed into an express train on a level crossing in Hualien County this morning, but fortunately nobody on board the train was injured. According to reports, the Taroko Express train #401 bound for Taipei from Taitung City was passing through a level crossing in Xiulin Township at 6:44 am when a white sedan crashed into the third and fourth cars of the train. The driver of the car, named Lin, suffered

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Bus involved in fatal accident was traveling 30kph over speed limit

bus straddling ravine following collision
Traffic Accidents 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Both drivers involved in a collision were at fault, according to an investigation into an accident on Taiwan’s east coast that left one dead and four injured Saturday, April 8. According to the police investigation, at around 7:40 am, Saturday, the driver of an SUV executed an illegal left turn over double-yellow lines at the entrance to a camping area on Highway 11 in Fengbin Township, Hualien County. A bus slammed into the SUV before careering off the road and

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Taiwanese combatant in Ukraine confirmed to have died in battle

composite image showing Taiwanese volunteer in Ukraine International Legion and patch combining ROC Taiwan and Ukrainian flag
International 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments , ,

Tseng Sheng-kuang (曾聖光), a 25-year-old Taiwanese man who enlisted in the International Legion of Ukraine’s territorial defense forces died in battle on Wednesday, November 2, it has been confirmed by the man’s family in Taiwan, and Ukrainian authorities, after reports began to circulate on social media platforms yesterday. Tseng’s wife, Huang Li-chen (黃麗珍), told Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) Friday evening that she received a message from her husband’s comrade that Tseng had died due to excessive blood loss after

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148 schools report damage after 6.4, 6.8 magnitude quakes strike Taiwan

damaged elementary school after earthquake
Earthquakes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Taiwan’s Ministry of Education reported that 148 schools around the country had reported damage after a series of earthquakes struck the east coast over the weekend, with two quakes over magnitude 6. More than 140 earthquakes have shaken Taiwan since the first, a magnitude 6.4 tremblor, struck in the north of Taitung County Saturday evening. More than 70 aftershocks were felt Saturday night and Sunday before a destructive 6.8 magnitude quake struck in Chishang Township at 2:44 pm. As of

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4 people rescued from collapsed building after destructive earthquake strikes eastern Taiwan

composite image showing collapsed building and person rescued
Earthquakes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Firefighters in Hualien County successfully located and extracted four injured people after a building collapsed when a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the area today, Sunday, September 18. Hualien County Fire Department sent a search and rescue team to the scene of the disaster in Yuli township after receiving reports that a three-storey mixed commercial and residential building collapsed after the earthquake struck at 2:44 pm. Staff and customers of a 7-11 convenience store on the first floor had all evacuated the

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