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Covenanters Uninjured in Massive Taiwan Earthquake
TAIWAN (September, 1999) - (Covenant News Service Special Report)
"As far as we know, our (Covenant) churches have been spared," reports David Dolan, coordinator for Chinese Ministries for World Mission of the Evangelical Covenant Church, following the early morning earthquake in the Taichung area that has already claimed more than 1,450 lives.
Approximately 3,750 people were injured in the quake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, making it the worst earthquake to strike the island in more than a decade. Most of the death and injury occurred near the quake's epicenter some 90 miles (145 kilometers) south of Taipei, in the area of Puli outside Taichung. That area includes the counties of Nantou and Taichung.
The rate of death and injury was likely higher due to the fact that most of Taiwan's 22 million citizens were asleep when the earthquake unleashed its fury in the early morning hours. Reuters news service this morning reported rescuers feverishly digging to free 50 individuals who were buried in the rubble of a collapsed 12-story hotel in downtown Taipei. Only the top four floors of the building were visible, tilted at a 45-degree angle, the agency reported.
The Dolans were in Taipei when the earthquake struck. "It was the worst we have ever experienced," Dolan said this morning in a special dispatch to Covenant News Service. Dolan said the ministerial retreat on Yang Ming Shan (Taipei) was cancelled this morning.
"We could not get hold of the Dwights (Don and Lillian), so we rode down to Taichung with the pastor from Taichung Covenant," Dolan said. Don Dwight teaches at Morrison Academy in Taichung. "The roads were amazingly fine. On the surface everything looks okay, but many apartments look like they were hit by a tornado on the inside, especially those that were higher up in the buildings.
"The Dwights are fine, thankfully, but the building that we lived in for four years was badly damaged. It is still standing, but the people are worried about all the cracks and the broken water and gas lines," Dolan said. "Many of our friends are facing difficult decisions about living quarters.
"We're sitting in a guest room at the old Norwegian dorm at Morrison in Taichung," Dolan continued. "There's almost a party atmosphere outside, with people barbecuing supper and singing praise songs. Many missionaries are afraid to return to their apartments tonight. Apparently, seismologists are predicting the possibility of another quake within the next two weeks," Dolan said. He reported that later in the morning, electrical service had been at least partially restored.
Dolan urges Covenanters everywhere to pray that Taiwan will be spared another earthquake, also praying for those faced with tough decisions as they attempt to rebuild their lives. In the midst of the tragedy, Dolan also urged everyone to give thanks to God "that He protected all our friends in the area."
Those interested in supporting Covenant assistance efforts for Taiwanese victims may do so by sending gifts to Covenant World Relief, 5101 N. Francisco Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60625, designating gifts for Taiwan Earthquake Relief.
Additional information from our Covenant sources in Taiwan will be posted to the Covenant Internet website as soon as it becomes available.
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