VATICAN Taiwan: Francis prays for earthquake victims and survivors

In a telegram signed by Card. Parolin, the pontiff assures his “sincere solidarity and spiritual closeness” to the affected population. The updated balance is 12 victims, but others could be added in the coming days. Rescuers found most of the missing and displaced, including 400 people who were isolated in a luxury hotel in Taroko Gorge National Park.

Taipei () – Pope Francis expressed his feelings of closeness, solidarity and condolences to those affected by the April 3 earthquake in Taiwan in a telegram signed by the Secretary of State, Card. Pietro Parolin and addressed to the president of the Chinese Regional Episcopal Conference of Taiwan, Bishop Juan Bautista Lee Keh-mean. In the message, the pontiff assures his prayers for the victims, the injured, the displaced and the emergency personnel and rescuers “working in the recovery operations” of the survivors and missing people, most of whom were rescued in the last hours.

The Pope says he feels “deeply saddened” by the loss of human life and damage caused by the earthquake and “assures – the telegram continues – his sincere solidarity and spiritual closeness to all those who have been affected by this catastrophe. “. Finally, the pontiff invokes “divine blessing for all”, so that it may be “of consolation and strength.”

Meanwhile, the updated balance from Taipei officials speaks of at least 12 victims and more than a thousand injured as a result of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the island two days ago at 8 a.m. local time. The main earthquake was followed by multiple aftershocks, including one of magnitude 6.4, and others are expected in the coming days.

A few hours ago, rescue teams operating against the risk of new landslides and landslides, especially in mountainous or rural areas, found two more bodies. About 50 tremors occurred overnight in the worst-affected area, Hualien province, some of which were felt in Taipei.

Local civil protection teams report that at least 400 people who were isolated in a luxury hotel in Taroko Gorge National Park are being assisted with supplies and helicopters are transporting the injured. About fifty workers who were trapped on the road leading to the hotel are also safe. Firefighters in Taiwan said they had found two bodies in the mountains, but were waiting for confirmation of their identities before adding them to the list of victims. At this moment there are 13 missing people, including three foreigners of Australian and Canadian nationality.

Experts and volunteers continue to arrive in the most affected area, while politicians and representatives of institutions, including President Tsai Ing-wen, have declared their intention to donate a month's salary to relief efforts. Japan will also donate one million dollars in aid “for rescue and recovery operations,” Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa reported today.

Taiwan is located near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes, although this time the number of victims was lower than other times in the recent past. In a 2016 earthquake in the south of the country, more than 100 people died, while another previous one, with a magnitude of 7.3, left more than 2,000 victims in 1999.