Well I am sure you have all heard by now that there was an earthquake in Taiwan!
Let me tell you this was scary stuff!!!
The first one happened at around 8:26pm on Tuesday evening (26 Dec 06 - 2nd anniversary of the Tsunami!). The epicenter was near Hengchun, near Kenting in the very southern tip of Taiwan. It measured 6.7 on the Richter Scale.
Our visitors had just arrived (4 missionaries), and we were sitting chatting, when suddenly I felt like I was shaking. Talis-Rain was next to me and I thought he was bumping me, so I pushed him away slightly only to realise I was still shaking!!! I then thought that it was perhaps a sugar-rush/low (but I had not had my chocochino yet!). Then I remember hearing the word "earthquake", it might even have been me who said it, I don't quite remember. It was the first time any of us had experienced it! We were all staring at each other wondering what to do next. All the teachings of what to do in these kind of situations basically went out the window!!! All I could think to do was "PRAY".
The next one happened about 8:34, around 8 minutes later. This time the epicenter was right here in Pingtung, where we are! It measured 6.4!!!
There was another one which was a bit further out to sea (near Hengchun again), which measured 5.2, at around 8:40 (we did not really feel this one - I think because it was further away from us and smaller).
It was such an unreal experience. Bear in mind we are on the 10th floor, and the whole building was swaying!!! I have been told that buildings have been built to sway from the 7th floor up, so I guess it was a good thing that we were swaying - still it was not a pleasant experience. You kind of feel like a sitting duck! When you see on earthquakes on tv you always see buildings collapsed. But now I know this isn't always the case - especially with the more "modern" buildings!!!
When it first started WR and KS were playing in the bedroom (apparently KS thought it was quite funny that the building was moving), and then when I realised what was going on I just started calling for them and they came very quickly!
The second one seemed to bounce more than sway, so when it had stopped, which seemed like forever, but was actually about a minute, we then decided it was time to leave the building!!!
We then spent the night at a friends house, and at around 11:30pm, there was another smaller one.
We returned home on Wednesday morning and WR and I were home alone when at around 10:30am we had another smaller one, 5.9 on the Scale.
The newspaper did say geologists warn there may be more, however I called the earthquake hotline tonight and they said not to worry too much!
This is the first earthquake of this magnitude in the south in the past 100 years!!! So we are part of history!!!
So far as I know only 2 people lost their lives. One was a mother who covered her twin boys with her body when their building collapsed (in Hengchun), and the other one was her brother (or in law, anyway it was another member of the family). There were about 42 people who were hospitalized. There were lots of fires and houses that collapsed (these were mainly in Hengchun).
Well, just wanted to let you know we are all fine, carrying on regardless. Needless to say I have now packed a "grab it and run bag", which I keep by the front door with our cashcards, passports, documents, phone chargers, beanies, warm jackets, etc, in case we need to get out in a hurry again (which please pray we do not need to!!!).
Hope you all have a wonderful new year - and remember to be safe and responsible....
Love to all
~* Starr, Jason, Willow-River, Talis-Rain and Keanu-Storm *~
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