Taiwan earthquake latest news: Dozens stuck in tunnels after biggest quake in 25 years - BBC News
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-asia-68720022#0 Version 16 of 19. Rupert Wingfield-Hayes Reporting from Taiwan These people are trapped in tunnels along what is called the Suhua Highway - which runs down the east coast and is one of the most dramatic and treacherous roads in Taiwan. It is famous for both its beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and its danger – not least because of its landslides. This road was cut through the mountainside and was blasted through using literally dynamite and manual labour, mostly military labour to make that highway through from Yilan to Hualian in the 1950s. Before then, there was no road around the north coast of Taiwan to Hualian. This 50km (30 miles) stretch of road with a number of tunnels in it, some of them quite long. And it is in two of those tunnels we understand that these tourists are trapped. We do not know the condition they are in, whether they're safe, whether they have food and water, whether they're able to contact the outside world or not. We also don't know how bad the blockages are and how long it is going to take for rescue teams to get through to them. Presumably it might take some time. But, it is a sort of nightmare scenario being on a bus, in a tunnel on a very treacherous piece of road where on one side is a mountain and on the other side is a sheer plunge into the ocean. Rescue teams are working to get to them tonight. We understand the railway along the east coast of Taiwan is damaged, is being repaired and they are hoping to get that railway through to Hualian and open by lunchtime tomorrow. ShareView more share optionsShare this postCopy this linkRead more about these links. Copy this link |