A police officer stands guard near a damaged overhead railway bridge following a magnitude 7.2 earthquake near Hualien, in New Taipei, Taiwan, April 3, 2024. Daniel Ceng, EPA-EFE

epa11256679 A police officer stands guard near a damaged overhead railway bridge following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake near Hualien, in New Taipei, Taiwan, 03 April 2024. A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Taiwan on the morning of 03 April with an epicenter 18 kilometers south of Hualien City at a depth of 34.8 km, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).  EPA-EFE/DANIEL CENG

Aftermath of a magnitude 7.5 earthquake near Hualien

Zen Hernandez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span dir="ltr" id="isPasted"></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171214275756612135669.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A police officer stands guard near a damaged overhead railway bridge following a magnitude 7.2 earthquake near Hualien, in New Taipei, Taiwan, April 3, 2024. Daniel Ceng, EPA-EFE"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A police officer stands guard near a damaged overhead railway bridge following a magnitude 7.2 earthquake near Hualien, in New Taipei, Taiwan, April 3, 2024. <em>Daniel Ceng, EPA-EFE</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- All Filipinos in Taiwan have been accounted for and safe, according to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei, after a massive 7.2 quake struck the self-governing island on Wednesday morning. </p><p>&quot;Awa ng Diyos, wala namang na-injure or na-trap na Filipino dun sa nasabing building na gumuho because of the earthquake. Sabi rin ng ating Filipino community leaders, safe naman sila doon..Paalala lang sa mga kababayan natin, dahil palagi naman nagkakaroon tayo dito ng earthquake drill, wag po tayong magpapanic and if ever kailangan ng tulong nandito po ang MECO,&quot; MECO&#x27;s Deputy Resident Representative Alice Visperas said. </p><p>According to Visperas, there are an estimated 170,000 Filipinos in Taiwan. Around 150,000 of this number are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), some 11,000 are married to Taiwan nationals, while some 3,000 are students or interns. Many are in Taipei but 1,400 Filipinos are located in Hualien County.</p><p>According to Taiwan&#x27;s Central Weather Administration, the epicenter of the quake struck 25 kilometers of Hualien County on the east coast.</p><p>Videos coming from Hualien showed massive destruction after the quake. The tremor triggered landslides and caused buildings to collapse. Establishments like hotels were also badly damaged. Roads were closed as rescuers tried to respond to people trapped in buildings. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/4/3/magnitude-7-5-earthquake-hits-near-taiwan-japan-agency-825" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: 7.2-magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/3/tsunami-waves-threaten-23-areas-in-philippines-after-m7-5-quake-847" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: Philippines warns of tsunami, orders evacuations after Taiwan quake</a></div><div><span id="isPasted"></span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"></span></div><p>Judith Perdigoso, an OFW of 15 years in Hualien, says she almost rented a unit in one of the buildings that collapsed. She also tells ABS-CBN News that quakes are quite common in their area, but this is the most massive and violent tremor they have experienced so far. </p><p>An aftershock even struck while she was being interviewed. </p><p>&quot;Sobrang kabado, di mo alam kung saan ka pupunta. Hindi mo alam kung anong gagawin mo. Yung mga kaldero, mga plato nagsihulugan. Ayan po may aftershocks pa ngayon, tuloy-tuloy po kasi mula kanina. May konti, may malalakas, ngayon ka-aftershocks lang. Siguro mga 200 times or 300 times na mula nang naglindol kaninang alas otso… As in sobrang takot, na feeling ko katapusan na ng mundo,&quot; she shared.</p><p>Even Taipei suffered intense shaking. Chandeliers swayed violently and many Filipinos evacuated immediately after the main shock. Gino Lopez, a student in Taiwan for the past 2 and a half years, said that despite being used to quakes, Taiwan residents knew today&#x27;s quake was destructive. </p><p>&quot;Yung mga aftershocks right after the earthquake sobrang lakas din…talagang parang lahat huminto, at saka yung trains po dito huminto, huminto lahat,&quot; Gino said. </p><p>In a post on X, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended sympathies and expressed readiness to send support for Taiwan: &quot;Our hearts are with the people of Taiwan as they endure the aftermath of today&#x27;s powerful earthquake. Rest assured, our Department of Migrant Workers is diligently ensuring the safety of the 159,480 Filipinos currently residing in Taiwan. We stand ready to assist and support our fellow Filipinos in Taiwan in any way possible during this difficult period.&quot;</p><p>Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen expressed her gratitude to all who sent prayers and support, including Marcos: &quot;Thank you, @bongbongmarcos, for your heartfelt message following today&#x27;s earthquake. Response efforts are ongoing, and we will continue to do our utmost to protect the safety of all in Taiwan, including our Filipino community, as we recover and rebuild.&quot;</p><p>In Tsai&#x27;s latest post, the official reported that disaster response is underway after the magnitude 7.2 quake: &quot;Disaster response is underway following this morning&#x27;s 7.2 earthquake and aftershocks. I&#x27;m deeply grateful for the messages of support we have received from around the world, and to our first responders for their life-saving work. My heart is with everyone affected. Please keep in touch with loved ones, and stay safe.&quot;</p><p>The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) also opened a Taiwan Help Desk and hotlines for Filipinos who may need assistance. </p><div><em>The 24/7 Help Desk and Hotlines in the Philippines and Taiwan are as follows: </em></div><p>PHL Hotline Nos: 8522-3663 / 8376-6352 / 8426-0833 / 8293-9155 / 8252-1972</p><p>Mobile No: +63 919 067 3975</p><p>Email: repat@dmw.gov.ph </p><p>Taiwan Hotline Nos:</p><p>(TAIPEI) +886 932-218-057  </p><p>(KAOSHIUNG) +886 988-976-596  </p><p>(TAICHUNG) +886 966-537-732</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fRSjnj-xhvU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pejsjAQOX4Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3003142"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div>

<p>There were no Filipinos hurt or badly affected from the major earthquake that hit Taiwan on Wednesday morning, according to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office.</p>

There were no Filipinos hurt or badly affected from the major earthquake that hit Taiwan on Wednesday morning, according to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office.

No Filipinos hurt in Taiwan after major quake: MECO | ABS-CBN

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No Filipinos hurt in Taiwan after major quake: MECO

No Filipinos hurt in Taiwan after major quake: MECO

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 03, 2024 11:34 AM PHT

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Updated Apr 03, 2024 07:13 PM PHT

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