Pope 'deeply saddened' after powerful 7.4 magnitude quake strikes Taiwan

April 4, 2024 at 2:08 p.m.
An injured woman is assisted after being rescued from a remote area April 4, 2024, following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake near Hualien, Taiwan. At least nine people died when the quake struck April 3, and more than 1,000 people were injured. According to the BBC, rescuers were working to reach more than 600 stranded people, while dozens of people were still reported missing. (OSV News photo/Tyrone Siu, Reuters).
An injured woman is assisted after being rescued from a remote area April 4, 2024, following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake near Hualien, Taiwan. At least nine people died when the quake struck April 3, and more than 1,000 people were injured. According to the BBC, rescuers were working to reach more than 600 stranded people, while dozens of people were still reported missing. (OSV News photo/Tyrone Siu, Reuters). (Tyrone Siu)

By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News

ROME OSV News – Pope Francis expressed his condolences to the people of Taiwan after a powerful earthquake struck the island nation's eastern shore.

In a message sent to the Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference of Taiwan, April 4, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the Pope "was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake in Taiwan."

The Pope, he added, "assures everyone affected by this disaster of his heartfelt solidarity and spiritual closeness."

"Pope Francis likewise prays for the dead, the injured and all those displaced, as well as for the emergency personnel engaged in recovery efforts and invokes upon all the divine blessings of consolation and strength," Cardinal Parolin wrote.

The 7.4 magnitude earthquake, which was felt April 3, is the strongest one to hit the island in almost 25 years, the Reuters news agency reported.

    Workers carry out operations April 4, 2024, at the site where a building collapsed followinga 7.4 magnitude earthquake near .Hualien, Taiwan. At least nine people died when the quake struck April 3, and more than 1,000 people were injured. According to the BBC, rescuers were working to reach more than 600 stranded people, while dozens of people were still reported missing. OSV News photo/Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Reuters
 


According to the U.S Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located roughly 11 miles south of Hualien City with dozens of tremors and aftershocks shortly after the initial earthqu

UCA News reported that at least nine people lost their lives. They include three people who were crushed by boulders that fell on them during a morning hike. Several drivers also were killed due to falling boulders and another victim was killed in a mine.

As of the time of this report, The Associated Press stated that the number of injured totaled over 1,000. Dozens more may still be trapped within the rubble of collapsed buildings in areas affected by the quake.

In a statement released April 4 by the Diocese of Hualien, quoted by UCA News, Bishop Philip Huang Chao-ming said that following the earthquake, the diocese "immediately contacted all parishes to express condolences and offer care."

"There have been no reports of serious damage at this time, except for some parishes where items have fallen or are damaged and need to be repaired," he said.

Bishop Huang called on parish priests to "keep close attention to the needs of people and parishes" and Catholics to seek "the peace of the resurrected Jesus in our worries and fears."

"I also wish that the disaster and conditions in stricken areas will be gone soon, and that God grants us peace! God bless Taiwan," the bishop said.

On X, formerly Twitter, a video was posted by the news agency TVBS World Taiwan, showing traffic at a standstill on a bridge as it swayed during the earthquake.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen posted on X that she is "deeply grateful for the messages of support we have received from around the world, and to our first responders for their life-saving work," she wrote. "My heart is with everyone affected. Please keep in touch with loved ones, and stay safe."

The earthquake also prompted Japan and the Philippines to issue tsunami warnings. Speaking to journalists, Wu Chien-fu, director of Taipei's Central Weather Administration's Seismology Center, said the quake struck "close to land and it's shallow. It's felt all over Taiwan and offshore islands."

"It's the strongest in 25 years since the (1999) earthquake," he said, referring to the 7.6 magnitude quake that struck the island nation in September 1999 that killed an estimated 2,500 people and was one the deadliest in the country's history.

Junno Arocho Esteves writes for OSV News from Rome.

The Church needs quality Catholic journalism now more than ever. Please consider supporting this work by signing up for a SUBSCRIPTION (click HERE) or making a DONATION to The Monitor (click HERE). Thank you for your support.




Related Stories

ROME OSV News – Pope Francis expressed his condolences to the people of Taiwan after a powerful earthquake struck the island nation's eastern shore.

In a message sent to the Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference of Taiwan, April 4, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the Pope "was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake in Taiwan."

The Pope, he added, "assures everyone affected by this disaster of his heartfelt solidarity and spiritual closeness."

"Pope Francis likewise prays for the dead, the injured and all those displaced, as well as for the emergency personnel engaged in recovery efforts and invokes upon all the divine blessings of consolation and strength," Cardinal Parolin wrote.

The 7.4 magnitude earthquake, which was felt April 3, is the strongest one to hit the island in almost 25 years, the Reuters news agency reported.

    Workers carry out operations April 4, 2024, at the site where a building collapsed followinga 7.4 magnitude earthquake near .Hualien, Taiwan. At least nine people died when the quake struck April 3, and more than 1,000 people were injured. According to the BBC, rescuers were working to reach more than 600 stranded people, while dozens of people were still reported missing. OSV News photo/Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Reuters
 


According to the U.S Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located roughly 11 miles south of Hualien City with dozens of tremors and aftershocks shortly after the initial earthqu

UCA News reported that at least nine people lost their lives. They include three people who were crushed by boulders that fell on them during a morning hike. Several drivers also were killed due to falling boulders and another victim was killed in a mine.

As of the time of this report, The Associated Press stated that the number of injured totaled over 1,000. Dozens more may still be trapped within the rubble of collapsed buildings in areas affected by the quake.

In a statement released April 4 by the Diocese of Hualien, quoted by UCA News, Bishop Philip Huang Chao-ming said that following the earthquake, the diocese "immediately contacted all parishes to express condolences and offer care."

"There have been no reports of serious damage at this time, except for some parishes where items have fallen or are damaged and need to be repaired," he said.

Bishop Huang called on parish priests to "keep close attention to the needs of people and parishes" and Catholics to seek "the peace of the resurrected Jesus in our worries and fears."

"I also wish that the disaster and conditions in stricken areas will be gone soon, and that God grants us peace! God bless Taiwan," the bishop said.

On X, formerly Twitter, a video was posted by the news agency TVBS World Taiwan, showing traffic at a standstill on a bridge as it swayed during the earthquake.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen posted on X that she is "deeply grateful for the messages of support we have received from around the world, and to our first responders for their life-saving work," she wrote. "My heart is with everyone affected. Please keep in touch with loved ones, and stay safe."

The earthquake also prompted Japan and the Philippines to issue tsunami warnings. Speaking to journalists, Wu Chien-fu, director of Taipei's Central Weather Administration's Seismology Center, said the quake struck "close to land and it's shallow. It's felt all over Taiwan and offshore islands."

"It's the strongest in 25 years since the (1999) earthquake," he said, referring to the 7.6 magnitude quake that struck the island nation in September 1999 that killed an estimated 2,500 people and was one the deadliest in the country's history.

Junno Arocho Esteves writes for OSV News from Rome.

The Church needs quality Catholic journalism now more than ever. Please consider supporting this work by signing up for a SUBSCRIPTION (click HERE) or making a DONATION to The Monitor (click HERE). Thank you for your support.



Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Do most people make it to heaven?
"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed...

Pope: Make sure confirmation is not last time parish sees young people
The Catholic Church must put more effort into ensuring,,,

Christian persecution is increasing dramatically around the globe, report says
A report on the persecution of Christians globally has found...

Host of new 'The Rosary in a Year' podcast hopes people 'fall in love' with the prayer
A new podcast about the rosary promises to deepen ...

Newly lit Guadalupe torches begin monthlong journey around Diocese
Catholics gathered at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral ...


The Evangelist, 40 North Main Ave., Albany, NY, 12203-1422 | PHONE: 518-453-6688| FAX: 518-453-8448
© 2024 Trenton Monitor, All Rights Reserved.