Mondo Taiwan - 10/18-10/24/99 - MONDO EARTHQUAKE

<BGSOUND SRC="images/Koyaanisqatsi.mid"> MONDO EARTHQUAKE

(MT) Sunday, October 24, 1999, 5:24 PM, Taichung, Taiwan - The six most recent quake reports from the Central Weather Bureau:

6:06 AM, 17.1 km SW of Alishan, 4.8. View data here.
6:09 AM, 18.2 km SW of Alishan, 4.2. View data here.
6:35 AM, 7.6 km SW of Alishan, 4.7. View data here.
6:38 AM, 18.1 km SW of Alishan, 4.2. View data here.
10:39 AM, 24.1 km east of Sun Moon Lake, 4.9. View data here.
11:07 AM, 6.7 km east of Chiayi, 4.2. View data here.
(MT) Sunday, October 24, 1999, 6:17 AM, Taichung, Taiwan - The latest quake reports from the Central Weather Bureau:

2:29 AM, 5.7 km east of Chiayi, 4.2. View data here.
5:10 AM, 16.6 km SW of Alishan, 5.1. View data here.
5:53 AM, 5.3 km NE of Chiayi, 4.8. View data here.
(MT) Sunday, October 24, 1999, 2:45 AM, Taichung, Taiwan - A tremor measuring 3.8 hit Chiayi just before midnight (11:58 PM), according to the Central Weather Bureau. I think they normally only report quakes of 4.0 or greater. Another larger one occurred at 1:08 AM today, 6.6 km east of Chiayi, and measured 5.2. View data for the larger tremor here.
(MT) Saturday, October 23, 1999, 11:30 PM, Taichung, Taiwan - Another tremor closer to my home today, according to the Central Weather Bureau. It occurred at 8:02 PM, 27.8 km (17 miles) ENE of Taichung (close to Fengyuan), and measured 4.4. Although I was on the fifth floor of a downtown building at that time, I didn't know about it until I checked the web later, but I heard from someone living closer to the epicenter that they felt that it was fairly serious. However, I have no information about damage or injuries at this time. View data here.

Some reports say that the 10/22 quake in Chiayi was felt as far away as mainland China's coastal provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu as well as in Hong Kong. A report in the 10/23 China Times says that "over 80 aftershocks including one with a magnitude of 6 [at 11:10 AM, 10/22] were reported as of late yesterday evening."
(MT) Saturday, October 23, 1999, 11:45 AM, Taichung, Taiwan - One more aftershock in Chiayi today, according to the Central Weather Bureau. It occurred at 6:38 AM, 3.6 km SE of Chiayi, and measured 4.1. View data here.

All English-language reports I've seen show a much smaller number (13 or 16) of collapsed buildings in Chiayi than what I thought I saw on TV yesterday (95). It could be that I read the Chinese incorrectly, but I'm more inclined to say it was inaccurate reporting. The latest figure I've seen from Yahoo's "Full Coverage" on injuries is 230.
(MT) Saturday, October 23, 1999, 2:38 AM, Taichung, Taiwan - Another jolt just got my heartrate up. I've been waiting for a news report, but I finally went online and found it on the Central Weather Bureau website. It occurred at 1:57 AM, 5 km NE of Chiayi, and measured 5.3. View data here.
(MT) Friday, October 22, 1999, 11:57 PM, Taichung, Taiwan - Even more tremors--too many to keep up with. I hope there are no inaccuracies, but I've included links to the maps with English info for your referral. Here are the latest ones (whose magnitude is at least 4.0), as reported by the Central Weather Bureau:

1:57 PM, 11.8 km ENE of Chiayi, 4.4. View data here.
2:19 PM, 6 km NE of Chiayi, 4.0. View data here.
2:31 PM, 6.5 km NE of Chiayi, 4.5. View data here.
3:00 PM, 6.2 km NE of Chiayi, 4.6. View data here.
4:34 PM, 4.9 km NE of Chiayi, 5.1. View data here.
4:38 PM, 8.7 km NE of Chiayi, 4.0. View data here.
5:12 PM, 5.7 km NE of Chiayi, 4.2. View data here.
5:14 PM, 2.6 km NE of Chiayi, 4.0. View data here.
7:52 PM, 3.4 km east of Chiayi, 4.2. View data here.
11:40 PM, 22.3 km SSE of Sun Moon Lake, 4.5. View data here.

Reports of injuries have also gone up. Although different reports vary widely, the number is probably over 200. I'm still waiting for the latest news reports. I'm seeing lots of images of landslides which have blocked mountain roads.
(MT) Friday, October 22, 1999, 12:20 PM, Taichung, Taiwan - The Chinese-language TV stations are reporting this morning's seismic activity as the "Chiayi Earthquake," totally independent of the 9/21 Chi Chi quake. It looks like Chiayi lost power and received a bit of damage, including a fire at Chungcheng University. 80,000 households are without power, and over a dozen buildings have collapsed. There are also reports of 3 injuries, but no immediate reports of anything worse. Being that this morning's quake occurred in daylight hours, people were better prepared to get out of buildings, and there's a lot of live coverage. Of course, the media hounds are still sticking their microphones in crying children's faces and asking them if they were scared. Some were too frightened to even reply. Chiayi experienced another large quake (6.2, if I remember correctly) in July of 1998 which caused a lot of damage.

Here are today's next 4 aftershocks as reported by Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau:
11:10 AM, 4.9 km NNE of Chiayi, 6.0. View it here.
11:19 AM, 4.9 km ESE of Chiayi, 4.1. View it here.
12:10 PM, 2.9 km ESE of Chiayi, 4.3. View it here.
1:04 PM, 5.4 km east of Chiayi, 4.2. View it here.
(MT) Friday, October 22, 1999, 10:37 AM, Taichung, Taiwan - I was just rudely awakened by the building moving again. This quake occurred at 10:19 AM 2.5 km west-northwest of Chiayi and measured 6.4! (View the GIF image of a map for yourself here.) By the time I had sat up, the building had already stopped shaking, but several minutes later, my body hasn't stopped. Another occurred at 10:27 AM, which I didn't even feel--or maybe I did and thought it was just my imagination, 5.2 km east-southeast of Chiayi, and measured 5.1. View it here. And that's not all! The CWB reports yet another one this morning at 10:43 AM (while I'm typing this!). Its epicenter was 4 km east of Chiayi City and measured 4.9 on the Richter scale. View it here. I really need sleep. I can't imagine how those people who are living in tents feel.
(MT) Thursday, October 21, 1999, 11:37 PM, Taichung, Taiwan - "Publicity was hindering efforts by a delegation from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) [Doctors without Borders] to carry out the original purpose of their visit to Taiwan's disaster areas: to help Taiwanese people help themselves," according to the 10/21 Taipei Times. In a statement which echoes my long-standing sentiments, the delegation's leader Dominique Leguiller said, "This is a working trip, not an official trip--and not a media trip. I don't want to see 40 TV cameras at the next place we visit." It's about time someone who doesn't have anything to lose scolded the media for their ridiculous behavior. In many situations I've seen on TV, hordes of reporters and photographers get way too close to the scene in attempts to get "exclusive" coverage, often getting in the way of emergency medical personnel and endangering the lives of those involved. While this situation wasn't so grave, it illustrated the overkill Taiwan's media often exhibits. The Taipei Times article also describes the MSF situation as being "hijacked by the media and publicity-hungry officials." Read the entire article, titled "Medecins Sans Frontieres greeted by a media circus" here.

Jade Mountain

Yushan (known to English speakers as Jade Mountain), which is Taiwan's highest peak at 3,798 meters, has moved 44 centimeters (17 inches) west-northwest according to Ministry of the Interior official Chang Yuan-hsu. According to the 10/21 China Post, earlier reports had claimed its height had increased by 28 meters, but Chang said the height of the mountain has undergone no obvious changes.

(MT) Thursday, October 21, 1999, 4:08 PM, Taichung, Taiwan - The second significant tremor today, according to the Central Weather Bureau, occurred at 8:30 AM with its epicenter 18.3 km south-southwest of Taichung. It measured 4.4 on the Richter scale. See their GIF image of a map with this info for yourself here.
(MT) Thursday, October 21, 1999, 4:16 AM, Taichung, Taiwan - Who needs sleep? (I do!) According to the Central Weather Bureau, there has already been one significant tremor today. It occurred at 3:28 AM with its epicenter 25.1 km southeast of Sun Moon Lake. It measured 4.6 on the Richter scale. The link to the English info was wrong, so I had to get it from the Chinese version. See their GIF image of a map with this info for yourself here or get the English "text" version here.
(MT) Wednesday, October 20, 1999, 11:52 PM, Taichung, Taiwan - According to the Central Weather Bureau, there was a second tremor today. It occurred at 4:30 PM with its epicenter 3.3 km south-southwest of Chiayi City. It measured 4.1 on the Richter scale. The info on the CWB page is a little confusing on this one. See their GIF image of a map with this info for yourself here.

The Taipei Times has more info on recent tremors in its 10/20 Quick Take column. They say that according to the Central Weather Bureau, the 11:31 PM 5.0 quake of 10/18 was not an aftershock of the 9/21 quake. They also report that CWB seismologists anticipate "further aftershocks measuring between 5 and 6" in the next month. Read the complete article here.

Hey! What's this?! Premier Vincent Siew thinks he's above the law? According to the cover of the Taiwan News, "Siew stood firm yesterday on his decision against submitting the guidelines for implementing the emergency decree for legislative review even as opposition lawmakers continued to attack the Cabinet for its high-handedness." Read the complete Taiwan News article here.

CNN will begin airing a 30-second message today titled "Taiwan thanks the world." It was produced by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to show Taiwan's appreciation for the assistance provided by organizations from other countries that have helped in the aftermath of the 9/21 quake. Read the complete article here.

Here's something I neglected to mention earlier. Members of the Nobel-prize winning Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) have arrived in Taiwan to assist earthquake victims. Although the current group will leave on Friday, more members will arrive for longer-term assistance. Read more about this here.
(MT) Wednesday, October 20, 1999, 3:21 PM, Taichung, Taiwan - According to the Central Weather Bureau, there has been one noteworthy tremor already today. It occurred at 10:13 AM with its epicenter 15.2 km north-northeast of Nantou County's Alishan. It measured 4.4 on the Richter scale.
(MT) Tuesday, October 19, 1999, 11:50 PM, Taichung, Taiwan - According to the Central Weather Bureau, there have been four noteworthy tremors today. The most recent one occurred at 1:56 PM with its epicenter 24.8 km southeast of Nantou County's Sun Moon Lake. It measured 4.8 on the Richter scale. The others are listed below.
(MT) Tuesday, October 19, 1999, 2:18 PM, Taichung, Taiwan - As I mentioned late, late last night (early, early this morning), there was a 5.5 aftershock just a few seconds after midnight this morning. There have already been two more aftershocks today, according to the Central Weather Bureau. The first of these occurred at 1:55 AM in southern Nantou County (14.2 km NNE of Alishan) and registered as a 5.0. At 10:27 AM, there was another in central Nantou County which measured 4.5.
(MT) Monday, October 18, 1999, 11:59 PM, Taichung, Taiwan - The10/18/99 edition of the Taipei Times confirms the times of Sunday 10/17's aftershock reported by the Central Weather Bureau's website. (see below)

Speaking of aftershocks, one just got me off my chair and sent me running out the front door! FUCK! Actually, I felt TWO, and I just got a phone call from a friend who said she felt THREE! I've imagined several aftershocks recently, but I'm sure the ones that just happened were certainly real--pretty short, but forceful. I'd guess they were between 5.5 and 6.0. We're less than 2 hours away from the four-week mark after the 9/21 quake. I'll report more when I get accurate figures.

I'm sitting here reading today's papers and listening to the TVBS-N news. I can't believe they haven't mentioned anything yet. It's more than 15 minutes since I felt the tremor. Okay, at 12:30 AM, they've finally reported one of these as happening at 12:00 AM, centered near Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County, and registering 5.5 on the Richter scale. (This is the largest aftershock since the 6.8 tremor of 9/26/99.) The other was a 5.0, centered in Hualien County, which occurred at 11:30 PM Monday. These 2 quakes were along separate fault lines. I've been telling people that if the magnitude of a quake is below 5.5, I'm not sure if it's real or my imagination. I didn't really even think there was a tremor at 11:30. The CWB reports this (according to a later check) as occurring at 11:31 PM, 26.9 km west of Hualien.

I've gotta give the Central Weather Bureau credit. I dug into their website's index to look at the times and dates on their files, and it appears that they got tonight's 2 quakes posted--in English, nonetheless--on the web 13 and 12 minutes (respectively) after they happened.

If anybody has seen my comments about betel nut and erosion on the Mondo Taiwan - Culture page, they'd be interested in one of the largest effects of the 9/21 earthquake. Formerly verdant mountains in Nantou County--which is one of the primary areas of Taiwan where betel nut is grown--have become bare yellow tracts of dirt and stones. While watching the TVBS-N series "The Changed Land" tonight, I noticed betel nut palms in nearly every shot of the devastation. Some of you might think this is weird (no wonder, it's not exactly normal...), but this made me think of this quote from the original "Godzilla" movie: "Nature has a way sometimes of reminding man of just how small he is. She occasionally throws up the terrible offsprings of our pride and carelessness to remind us of how puny we really are in the face of a tornado, an earthquake, or a Godzilla. The reckless ambitions of man are often dwarfed by their dangerous consequences." If you've seen any of the devastated areas (Tungshih, for example), you might think Godzilla had been through there--tall buildings toppled over, smaller buildings collapsed, even smaller homes completely in ruins, roads vertically displaced by three meters or more, entire towns moved several meters laterally. Listen to a (LOUD) 109 K WAV of this quote here (will open a new window), or look at the 10/18/99 Taipei Times editorial cartoon here, and see if you can figure out how these "reckless ambitions" relate to the Taiwan earthquake. In case you still don't get it, it's the profit motive beyond all else which drives so many people in the world to do things without a second thought that could kill other people or ruin their lives.

The 10/18 China Post is back to its urgent call for quake survivors and rescuers to get professional counseling. There have been at least three reported suicides linked to depression following the quake. Lin Chi-hsiang, a psychiatrist at Fengyuan Hospital, says that post-trauma depression usually peaks about four weeks after a tragedy. (Think that's what happened to me in the above paragraph?) Dr. Lin says, "Now is a critical time for treatment because the level of fear and depression would intensify [into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] if they don't seek professional counseling." Read the entire article here courtesy of Yahoo's "Full Coverage."

In another 10/18 China Post story, the drainage of two new lakes which have formed as a result of landslide dams is being delayed in order to retrieve the bodies of 24 people still buried by the quake on Nantou County's Chiufener Mountain. The lakes currently hold about 1.3 and 0.8 million cubic meters of water, respectively, according to government officials, and there are people living about 1.2 kilometers away from the lake. A similar "barrier lake" which formed in Tsaoling, Yunlin County in 1941 killed over 100 people when it burst suddenly in 1951. With all due respect to the loved ones of the aforementioned victims, I sure hope that none of the survivors loses their lives at the expense of saving dead bodies.

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