25 Years Later, Canadian Rescue Team Remembers 921 Earthquake Clearly

VANCOUVER, Sept. 20 (CNA) — Even a quarter century cannot erase memories of the devastating earthquake that devastated large parts of central Taiwan from the minds of a Canadian medical team.

Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of the Jiji earthquake, known as the “921 earthquake” in Taiwan. The 7.3-magnitude quake killed more than 2,400 people and injured tens of thousands.

In a recent interview, two members of the Richmond medical support team from British Columbia, Canada, told CNA that their experiences in Nantou County remain etched in their hearts.

“It was very scary. Having been born and raised in Hong Kong before immigrating to Canada, I had never experienced an earthquake and had no idea it could be this catastrophic,” said Chuck O.

A mental health professional, O was a key member of the 14-person Richmond team, the first Canadian rescue team sent to help victims of the 1921 earthquake.

The team, which included four doctors and nine nurses from the Richmond Health Department, arrived in Taiwan on October 3, 1999.

Upon arrival at Taoyuan International Airport, they headed directly to Zhongliao Township in Nantou County, the area with the highest death toll from the earthquake.

“The smell of dead bodies was still there when we arrived, and there were special rituals for the dead. Screams were everywhere; it was a very heartbreaking scene, which motivated us to help the victims,” O. recalls.

Another key member was Chang Yi-kai (張亦凱), a Taiwanese pediatrician. Chang recalls being seen as a “savior” upon their arrival, as the earthquake had destroyed all local medical facilities and blocked roads, complicating supply efforts.

“Once we set up a temporary medical station, dozens of injured people lined up waiting for us, and more came after hearing about our arrival,” Chang said, adding that the team “often worked until late at night.”

Despite the exhaustion, Chang, who described himself as “Taiwanese,” found strength in his connection to the land.

“I am especially indebted to Chak Au and the other nine nurses. They had no ties to Taiwan but volunteered to come, using their holidays to work for almost 11 consecutive days without a break,” he said.

Zhang noted that the rescue experiences changed his view of popular beliefs.

He told the story of an old lady who witnessed the death of her neighbor and could not sleep at night because she heard someone crying. Conventional medical knowledge left doctors at a loss as to how to help her.

“I was so touched when the Laughing Buddha statue gave her the comfort she needed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ou praised the Taiwanese government and people for their quick response to the emergency.

Because Canada’s west coast is located in an earthquake-prone area, experts have long warned that British Columbia is on the cusp of a major seismic event. However, O said the government and public response there has been less than adequate.

After returning to Canada from the 921 earthquake mission, Ou and his team held several seminars to share their experiences.

“Over the past 25 years, Taiwan has made progress in early warning systems, response efficiency and public awareness. Canada should look to Taiwan and learn from it,” he added.

(Written by Ching Ai-Fen and Chao Yin-Hsiang)

Final Item/AW

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos