Taiwan: Earthquake: 1999/09/21
GLIDE: EQ-1999-000321-TWN
| Period | 1999/09/21 |
|---|---|
| Country or District | Taiwan |
| Event Type | Earthquake |
| Outline | On Sempteber 21(at Local), the earthquake occured around 01:47 local time (20 September 17:47 GMT) at Taiwan. The quake registered 7.6 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was near NANTO, 145km southern south east of the capital, TAIPEI.The death toll from Taiwan's devastating earthquake stood at 2,375. |
| Summary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Human Impact | Physical Impact | Others |
| Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) 1999/10/18 | ||
| The death toll has risen to 2,375. 79 people are listed as missing or trapped in rubble. Some 10,000 people were injured and 100,000 left homeless. |
Nearly 13,000 aftershocks had been recorded since the fatal quake on September 21st, | |
| Reuters 1999/10/12 | ||
| Emergency tent cities, schools and other temporary shelters were housing as many as 200,000 people. Total number of people injured stood at 8,722. Only 40 bodies were believed still buried under the rubble; a further 39 people were unaccounted for. |
The September 21 quake toppled or damaged 51,000 buildings, rendering some 82,238 individual households uninhabitable. | As of October 11, an accounting of direct losses showed: -- T$203.21 billion in collapsed and damaged buildings -- T$11.45 billion in damage to facilities supplying power, natural gas, gasoline and water -- T$15.79 billion in damage to roads, railways, ports and telecommunications facilities -- T$61.56 billion in lost industrial revenues blamed on actual damage to production systems or loss of power. |
| Agence France-Presse (AFP) 1999/10/01 | ||
| 8,737 people as injured, 110 as missing or trapped in rubble, and seven stranded in remote areas. Some 100,000 were left homeless. | ||
| Agence France-Presse (AFP) 1999/09/28 | ||
| Seven days after the pre-dawn quake struck central Taiwan, the death toll rose slightly to 2,105, with a further 8,713 people injured, 141 missing or trapped in rubble, and 100 stranded in remote areas. | Total infrastructure damage is estimated at more than 100 billion Taiwanese dollars (3.1 billion US). More than 600 stretches of road and 60 bridges were hit, estimating the total cost at nine billion Taiwanese dollars (283 million US). |
|
| BBC News 1999/09/27 17:04GMT | ||
| More than 2,000 dead, 8,700 injured. 162 people are missing or trapped in rubble and 133 are stranded in remote areas | 12,000 buildings destroyed, 100,000 homeless | More than 7,000 aftershocks and tremors have rocked Taiwan. The Taipei stock exchange has opened for the first time since the quake |
| OCHA Situation Report No.7 1999/9/27 | ||
| As of 27 September: 2,084 dead, 8,664 injured, about 162 people buried under collapsed structures and another 18 reported missing. | 7,284 houses are reported to be destroyed. In addition, thousands have been left homeless, including an estimated 100,000 residents in Nantou County alone. |
|
| BBC News 1999/09/26 13:00GMT | ||
| Two brothers have been pulled alive from the rubble of a building in Taipei - five days after Taiwan's devastating earthquake. Rescuers said several more people may be alive in the collapsed hotel-apartment block. At 6.8 on the Richter Scale, before 0800 local time of Sep. 26, the latest tremor was reported to kill at least four people. |
Over 6,000 buildings destroyed. | There have been at least 60 major shockwaves and more than 6,300 tremors since Tuesday's quake |
| CNN News 1999/09/26 05:45GMT | ||
| The 6.5-magnitude aftershock rattled central Taiwan, leaving two motorists dead after a landslide injuring at least 15. |
President Lee Teng-hui signed an emergency decree which supersede all existing laws for six months | |
| BBC News 1999/09/24 07:22GMT | ||
| The death toll now stands at 2,133, with more than 8,137 injured. 383 people are listed as missing | A campaign to bring manslaughter charges against builders of poorly constructed housing blocks is gathering pace. | A large tremor measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale was recorded at night of 23rd and more than 5,000 in total since the quake. |
| CNN News 1999/09/24 05:34GMT | ||
| Officials said 2,131 people were now confirmed dead, 8,137 injured, 68 missing and 316 entombed by rubble from numerous collapsed buildings. 3,799 people are listed as trapped -- unable to move about freely because of uprooted roads and debris but in no imminent danger. |
Authorities arrested a contractor responsible for three buildings that collapsed, burying about 100 people. The buildings had been made with substandard steel rods, and authorities found crumpled up vegetable oil cans had been used in place of bricks. |
Well over 4,000 aftershocks have jolted the island since 7.6 magnitude earthquake of 21st. Several aftershocks on Sep 23rd registered over 6.0. Power supplies were disrupted nationwide by the earthquake and will take another week or so to get back to anywhere near normal. Therefore many mortuaries can't keep the bodies refrigerated and aren't accepting corpses. |
| BBC News 1999/09/23 05:39 GMT | ||
| The official toll is 2,042 dead and 6,537 injured. About 100,000 people have been left homeless. Some 2,600 people are still missing. | ||
| CNN News 1999/09/23 03:10 GMT | ||
| 2,042 people were killed and more than 6,000 injured. Another 2,300 people were said to be buried in shattered homes and toppled apartments. | The spokesman said some buildings were defective and "those responsible should be investigated." | Rescue efforts were hampered by strong aftershocks. |
| BBC News 1999/09/22 03:36GMT | ||
| More than 3,000 people still buried under rubble. More than 1,700 people have been confirmed dead and around 4,000 are injured. Local media reports say that as many as 100,000 people could be homeless. |
Tremors were felt more than 500km (300 miles) away in Hong Kong and the south-eastern Chinese cities of Xiamen and Wenzhou. State radio reported that more than six million households across the island were hit by power cuts. More than 1,000 aftershocks were recorded in the nine hours after the quake, including 21 at five or higher on the Richter scale, local officials said. |
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| CNN News 1999/09/22 03:04GMT | ||
| More than 1,700 people were killed and more than 4,400 were injured. Nearly 3,000 people were still believed buried in the rubble. The government estimated that 100,000 people were homeless in Taiwan's rugged central regions. | In Chung Liao, a few miles from the epicenter, CNN reported that almost every building had been damaged or destroyed | Chung Liao and other towns in central Taiwan were without running water, phone service and electricity. Food supplies were limited. In Taipei 40 percent of the city's power had been restored. The government said financial markets would stay shut. |
| BBC News 1999/9/21 20:46 GMT | ||
| The Taiwanese Ministry of the Interior said 1,712 were known to have been killed, at least 4,005 injured and almost 3,000 trapped in toppled buildings. But the figures are likely to increase as more reports are collated. |
Central Nantou and Taichung counties were worst affected. The town of Pu-li, nearest the epicentre in central Taiwan, reported 98% structural damage. | |
| CNN News 1999/09/21 11:01 GMT | ||
| At least 1,455 people were dead. The Interior Ministry's disaster management center reported that 1,198 people were killed and some 3,700 injured. About 1,245 people were feared trapped. In Nantou County, 470 county residents had been killed and 100,000 left homeless. |
More than 1,000 homes were destroyed. | |
| OCHA Situation Report No.2 1999/09/21 | ||
| More than 1,200 people were killed and more than 3,800 have been injured; hundreds are still missing. It is expected that the death toll will continue to rise. |
Destruction to housing and infrastructure has been substantial, particularly in Taichung city where approximately 900 buildings have been destroyed or damaged. | |
| CNN News 1999/09/21 05:44 GMT | ||
| At least 1,100 people were killed, more than 3,500 injured and more than 1,000 others were trapped in toppled homes and buildings, some in elevators. | ||
| CNN News 1999/09/21 02:04GMT | ||
| At least 400 people were killed and about 2,000 people were injured | Six million households were without power | |
| Associated Press (AP) 1999/09/21 02:09GMT | ||
| The government said that at least 400 people were killed and about 2,000 people were injured. |
More than 100 homes were destroyed nationwide. Several roads were buckled and traffic was disrupted, isolating many remote towns. |
Television stations urged doctors, nurses and others with medical training to join in the rescue work. The U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center said the quake prompted tsunami warnings for Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Yap, Guam, and Palau |
| Asahi Shinbun 1999/09/21 0:32(GMT) | ||
| At least 121 people are dead, 456 are injured and 744 are waiting rescue. | ||
| BBC News (1999/09/21 00:32 GMT) | ||
| At least 269 people were killed. Officials say another 1,000 are injured or trapped in the debris of collapsed buildings | Most northern parts of Taiwan felt the effects of the quake, which toppled at least three buildings in the capital Taipei. Rescuers are trying to pull survivors from the rubble of the partially collapsed 78-room Sungshan Hotel | Warnings of tsunamis - tidal waves which often follow earthquakes - were issued for Taiwan, Japan and other islands in the region. The authorities have warned that there could be aftershocks for two weeks. |
| CNN News (1999/09/21 22:29 GMT) | ||
| At least 75 people were killed, 289 were injured and hundreds missing | Electric and telephone service was interrupted | A tsunami warning issued immediately after the quake has now been lifted. |
Related Links
Report/Articles
Accident and Disaster Information Center Report
Latest updates on the China Earthquake (ReliefWeb)
A list of the latest major documents added to ReliefWeb pertaining to the China.
ABC 1999/10/18
The death toll from last month's Taiwan's devastating earthquake has risen to two-thousand-375, as aftershocks continued to rock the island.
Nearly 40 more bodies were recovered at the weekend with official figures still listing 79 people as missing or trapped in rubble.
Some 10-thousand people were injured and 100-thousand left homeless.
AFP 1999/10/17
Psychiatrists warned Sunday that professional counselling was urgently needed for survivors and rescuers of last month's deadly earthquake, as the depression they suffered peaked four weeks after the tragedy.
Reuters 1999/10/13
9:42 a.m. (0142 GMT) quake measured 5.3 on the Richter scale and was centred in Hualien, a seismically active area on Taiwan's eastern shore.
Reuters 1999/10/12
New assessments on Tuesday showed Taiwan's September earthquake killed 2,321 people, left 310,000 homeless or otherwise seriously affected, and cost US$9.2 billion in losses.
AFP 1999/10/06
Taiwanese agricultural authorities said Wednesday it may cost 8.3 billion Taiwan dollars (261.22 million US) to restore the sector hit by last month's devastating earthquake.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) 1999/10/01
The death toll from Taiwan's devastating earthquake stood at 2,191 Friday as massive aftershocks continued to rock the island.
IFRC 1999/09/29
The Red Cross Society of China on Friday, 24 September, transferred US$100,000 to the Taiwan Red Cross Organisation as part of its continuing efforts to assist over 100,000 people made homeless by the massive Sept. 21 earthquake in the island of Taiwan.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) 1999/09/28 04:33GMT
Thousands of people rendered homeless by Taiwan's devastating earthquake face up to four wet months over the autumn and winter in tent camps for the homeless.
Government of Japan 1999/09/28
In the light of the request for assistance from the Taiwanese side, the Japanese Government is preparing to provide tents and generators.
In addition, the Government of Japan shall dispatch an expect team who specialise in the assessment of earthquake-resident buildings.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) 1999/09/28 7:52GMT
The death toll from Taiwan's devastating earthquake rose to 2,108 Monday as the island continued to feel massive aftershocks.
The Seismology Center said more than 8,655 aftershocks had been recorded since the fatal quake a week ago.
The latest list of the killed and injured person(in Chinese)
The latest list of the killed and the injured by city and county.
BBC News 1999/09/27 17:04GMT
Taiwan is beginning the traditional seventh-day mourning ceremonies for more than 2,000 victims.
More than 7,000 aftershocks and tremors have rocked Taiwan
OCHA Situation Report No.7 1999/9/27
As of 27 September: 2,084 dead, 8,664 injured, about 162 people buried under collapsed structures and another 18 reported missing. 7,284 houses are reported to be destroyed. In addition, thousands have been left homeless, including an estimated 100,000 residents in Nantou County alone.
CNN News 1999/09/26 05:45GMT
Rescuers pulled two brothers alive from the wreckage of a Taipei hotel demolished in the first earthquake. 130 hours have passed since the first quake.
BBC News 1999/09/26 13:00GMT
More than 8,500 people were injured and over 6,000 buildings destroyed. Officials at one point cited a death toll of nearly 2,200, but this was reduced to around 2,000 after it emerged some victims had been double counted. There have been more than 6,300 tremors since Tuesday's quake.
CNN News 1999/09/26 02:54GMT
Central Taiwan was rattled with a fresh, powerful aftershock (magnitude 6.8) in the morning of Sep. 26. Taiwanese television also reported that three foreign aid workers were injured in the aftershock.
OCHA Situation Report No.6 1999/9/24
2,146 dead, 8,139 injured and about 300 people listed as missing or buried under collapsed structures. 6,243 houses are reported to be destroyed.
OCHA Situation Report No. 5 1999/9/23
BBC News 1999/09/24 07:22GMT
Rescue workers were pessimistic on a further 383 people listed as missing, saying that finding any further survivors would be a "miracle", while a six-year-old girl has been found alive in earthquake debris after being trapped for almost 84 hours.
CNN News 1999/09/24 05:34GMT
Officials said 2,131 people were now confirmed dead, 8,137 injured, 68 missing and 316 entombed by rubble from numerous collapsed buildings.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) 1999/09/23 4:51GMT
Mass homeless communities emerge in Taiwan's quake-hit cities.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) 1999/09/23 3:49GMT
The death toll from the Taiwan earthquake was set to soar Thursday with thousands still trapped under the rubble.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) 1999/07/23 5:17GMT
A Russian team of experts on Thursday led a dramatic search for survivors in a tower block left dangerously balanced on its side by the most powerful earthquake in Taiwan's history.
China Times
News about politics, business, society, and culture in Taiwan
Central News Agency
English version
Taiwan Headlines
News from the ROC government's first English-language daily e-paper
BBC News 1999/09/23 17:01
The death toll stands at 2,106, with 7,821 injured. About 100,000 people have been left homeless. Taiwanese authorities have made their first arrest in a nationwide crackdown on shoddy building standards, following thousands of deaths in this earthquake
CNN News 1999/09/23 12:32GMT
2,106 people were killed and 7,821 people were injured.Taiwanese and international rescue teams on Thursday dug furiously in rubble over much of Taiwan, looking for survivors from a killer quake that has claimed 2,106 lives.
OCHA Situation Report No.4 1999/9/22
BBC News 1999/09/23 05:39 GMT
A series of powerful aftershocks continued to hit Taiwan overnight, hampering efforts to rescue people still entombed by the island's huge earthquake.
CNN News 1999/09/23 03:10 GMT
Rescuers race against clock to find Taiwan quake survivors.
Feature articles on Earthquake in Taiwan, Earthquake Information Center, Earthquake Research Institute, Tokyo University (only in Japanese)
Summary of Japan and world information regarding earthquake in Taiwan
BBC News 1999/09/22 03:36GMT
More than 3,000 people are still buried under rubble. More than 1,700 people have been confirmed dead and around 4,000 are injured, but the death toll is expected to rise during the day.
OCHA Situation Report No.3 1999/09/21
CNN News 1999/09/22 03:04GMT
More than 1,700 people were killed and more than 4,400 were injured. The 6.8-magnitude aftershock struck at 8:14 a.m. local time (0014 GMT) and was centered in a mountainous area 9 miles (15 kilometers) east of Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County, according to the Central Weather Bureau
BBC News 1999/9/21 20:46 GMT
The Taiwanese Ministry of the Interior said 1,712 were known to have been killed, at least 4,005 injured and almost 3,000 trapped in toppled buildings.
Central Nantou and Taichung counties were worst affected. The town of Pu-li, nearest the epicentre in central Taiwan, reported 98% structural damage.
CNN News 1999/9/21 18:21 GMT
Death toll rising:
Officials put the death toll at 1,712, with more than 4,000 injured.
CNN's reporter said that in Chung Liao, a few miles from the epicenter, almost every building had been damaged or destroyed.
CNN News 1999/09/21 11:01 GMT
Death toll tops 1,450 in powerful Taiwan quake.
OCHA Situation Report No.2 1999/09/21
According to media reports more than 1,200 people were killed and more than 3,800 have been injured ; hundreds are still missing. It is expected that the death toll will continue to rise.
OCHA Situation Report No.1 1999/09/20
A powerful earthquake hit Taiwan on 21 September 1999 at 1.47 a.m. local time (20 September 5.47 p.m. GMT). According to the USGS, the earthquake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.
CNN News 1999/09/21 05:44GMT
Officials said at least 1,100 people were killed, more than 3,500 injured and more than 1,000 others were trapped in toppled homes and buildings, some in elevators.
BBC News 1999/09/21 04:37GMT
Latest official estimates put the number of dead at about 650. A spokesman at the government's disaster centre said there were almost 3,000 injured and at least 1,200 trapped in the debris of collapsed buildings.
Yahoo! News Photos
Each photo has its explanation
CNN News 1999/09/21 02:04GMT
Officials said at least 439 people were killed, more than 2,000 injured and more than 1,000 others were trapped in toppled homes and buildings
Associated Press (AP) 1999/09/21 02:09GMT
At least 400 people were killed and about 2,000 people were injured
South China Morning Post 1999/09/21
BBC News (1999/09/21 00:49 GMT)
Taiwan quake in pictures
Asahi Shinbun 1999/09/21 0:32(GMT)
Strong earthquake occured in Taiwan. At least 121 people are dead.
BBC News (September 21, 1999 00:32 GMT)
At least 269 people were killed. Officials say another 1,000 are injured or trapped in the debris of collapsed buildings.
CNN News (September 20, 1999 22:29 GMT)
At least 75 people were killed, 289 were injured and hundreds missing
NHK-TV News (1999/9/21 05:00 JST)
Geographycal Data
Meteorological Agency of Taiwan
Recent Earthquake Report
Map around Epicenter
Needs Chinese font installed.
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Origin time, location, magnitude, depth, mechanism of occurence of earthquake, frequency of earchquake, travel time of tidal wave.
USGS Earthquake Information Center
Earthquake Bulletin
Map of Tawan - ESRI World Basemap Display
[ERI Emergency Relief Information]
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Japan
OCHA Situation Report No.3 1999/09/21
The Chinese Red Cross Society made available a cash contribution of US $100,000.
The Japanese JICA Team has already departed for the disaster site with 70 SAR experts and equipment. An additional 35 specialists will arrive on 22 September.
A Singapore Civil Defence Force Overseas Contingent departed Singapore on 21 September at 17.00 hrs local time, ETA on 21 September. The Team consists of 39 SAR personnel, including 4 dogs, Medical Team, Rescue Team and Services Team.
The United States dispatched a USAID/OFDA DART Team and Search and Rescue Team. The Team is made up of an advance party (ETA Taipei, 14.00 hrs, 22 September) and the SAR Team, totalling some 88 experts with specialized equipment (ETA 16.50 hrs, 22 September).
A Russian EMERCOM Team departed Moscow on 21 September at 18.00 local time. The Team consists of 70 rescuers, 4 search dogs, 3 vehicles and specialized equipment to assist the population.
Swiss, German and Austrian SAR Teams are departing in a joint flight from Zurich on 22 September at 07.00 hrs, ETA Taipei. The Swiss Disaster Relief Team is made up of some 40 SAR experts with 9 dogs, the Austrian AFDRU team consists of some 10 SAR experts and the German Technical Support Service (THW) Team made up of around 20 SAR experts. The plane is also carrying 10 tons of specialized search and rescue equipment.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Japanese Red Cross sent today a team of eight people (two relief experts and a five-persons medical team from the Japanese Red Cross as well as an IFRC delegate from Beijing) to Taipei to assist the local Red Cross in responding to the earthquake.
OCHA has dispatched a 6-member United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team to assist, in coordination between country-level and International Search and Rescue Teams. The UNDAC team is scheduled to arrive in Taipei on 22 September at 19.35 hrs local time.
CNN News 1999/09/21 11:01 GMT
Nantou County Executive appealed for donations of bulldozers, cars, quilts and food.
OCHA Situation Report No.2 1999/09/21
The United States has dispatched a 70-person Search and Rescue team to Taiwan. The Government of Japan will send an emergency relief team, consisting of 30 experts. The Russian Federation, Switzerland and the UK have their teams on stand-by.
Urgent Report from Supporting Members of the Asian Disaster Reduction Center