By Sunayana Prabhu
HOLMDEL – Days before a 4.8-magnitude earthquake rattled most of New Jersey, including Holmdel, Mayor Rocco Imprevedutdo expressed solidarity with “friendship city” New Taipei City in Taiwan, currently recovering from one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the country in 25 years.
A significant number of Holmdel residents have ties to Taiwan through family and friends. Resident Chiung-Yin Liu, Holmdel Heritage Committee chairperson, was born in Taiwan and facilitated the partnership between Holmdel’s then-Mayor DJ Luccarelli and Mayor Hou Yu-Ih of New Taipei City. The goal of “friendship city” status is to bolster cross-cultural exchange and community engagement, strengthening cooperation and collaboration by exploring cultural, arts, educational and economic opportunities. The status is expected to remain in effect until 2028.
“We have earthquakes big and small pretty often in Taiwan. So, people kind of get used to it,” Liu said, but “this time the earthquake hit very hard on the east side of Taiwan’s Hualien City” and although north of the epicenter, New Taipei City still suffered damages.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the island country 11 miles from Hualien City on the eastern coast at 7:58 a.m. The mainshock killed at least nine people and injured nearly 1,000 according to the online reports of USGS. Dozens of people are still missing and scores of buildings have been damaged.
“The thoughts and prayers of the entire governing body are with our friends in New Taipei City and throughout Taiwan today,” Impreveduto said in a statement April 4, offering condolences to affected residents. The powerful earthquake struck the island nation’s eastern coast during the morning rush hour.
Noting the county’s resilience, Impreveduto said, “Despite the devastation of this tragic event, thankfully, Taiwan’s history of earthquake preparedness has mitigated the impact of the quake and prevented a wider loss of life.”
Deputy Mayor Brian Foster added, “Taiwan has shown incredible resilience in the face of this disaster – I commend the emergency responders and citizens for their courage and determination.”
“Holmdel Township stands with our neighbors who hail from Taiwan as well as our partners in New Taipei City as they begin to rebuild,” Impreveduto concluded.
Taiwan has a history of earthquakes and is constantly building resilience against them. According to the USGS, in the last 50 years, six other earthquakes of this magnitude or greater occurred within 155 miles of the current epicenter. Nearly 25 years ago, in September 1999, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake known as the Chi-Chi earthquake resulted in at least 2,297 fatalities. The cost of the damage was estimated at $14 billion. In 2018, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake caused 17 fatalities and damaged buildings in Hualien. The largest recorded quake occurred in 1920 when a magnitude 8.2 earthquake occurred immediately east of the latest earthquake.
The article originally appeared in the April 11 – April 17, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
