A total of 88 figures from friendly and like-minded countries have expressed their support and condolences in the aftermath of the Hualien earthquake.
On Wednesday, Taiwan experienced its largest earthquake in 25 years, which devastated the county of Hualien. As of time of reporting, the current death toll is at 12, with 671 people still trapped, and 18 still missing across the island.
In a Facebook message, a spokesperson for the Presidential Office stated that many countries had expressed concern and extended condolences to Taiwan. The list of countries includes, but is not limited to, the prime ministers of Eswatini, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Belize, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Japan, India, Thailand, Canada, and the Czech Republic. The presidents of Paraguay, Guatemala, Palau, the Philippines, and the European Council, and other heads of state and governments of friendly countries also expressed condolences. Similar statements were received from dignitaries of the United States, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Belgium, New Zealand, Ireland, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Presidential Office thanked Taiwan’s international friends for their heartfelt concern, adding that local and central government will continue to assist Hualien with much-needed disaster relief. With this support, affected areas and people can rebuild quickly return to daily life as soon as possible.