Survivors of Taiwan’s historic quake recall harrowing moments of tremors, being trapped under rocks

By JOHNSON LAI and HUIZHONG WU
Associated Press

HUALIEN, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan residents endured harrowing experiences when the ground shook with the strongest earthquake to hit the island in 25 years. People saw rocks tumble onto roadways, watched parts of their homes fall around them and waited for rescuers to free them from the rubble. Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency said the quake was 7.2 magnitude while the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. The historic quake on Wednesday killed at least 12 people and injured more than 1,000. Several hundred people remained stranded after vital highways were damaged and the walls of some structures cracked. Some of the survivors shared their recollections about the disaster.