Lin Jianfang was startled awake before dawn on Saturday by violent tremors as a massive earthquake rocked southern Taiwan.
After making sure his wife wasn’t injured, he rushed out of his house to check on his brother’s apartment building.
As he got closer, his heart sank as he took in the stunning sight of the 17-story Weiguan Golden Dragon high-rise tower collapsed in complete ruins.
Nearly four days later, he, along with three generations of his family, continue to camp out in shifts around the clock, hoping for news of his brother, a 41-year-old engineer, who was asleep in the tower when the magnitude-6.4 earthquake hit at 3:57 a.m. Saturday.
“We refuse to give up hope,” he said while clutching his wife’s hands. The couple coughed as pulverized building debris wafted through the air.
There was better news as survivors continued their search for survivors. An 8-year-old girl and her aunt were pulled alive from the rubble almost 72 hours after the earthquake, Taiwan’s SETTV reported. Military doctor Li Biqing told reporters that the girl’s body was in “normal condition” despite her ordeal.
At least 40 people were killed in the earthquake, according to the Tainan City Disaster Response Center. More than 100 remain missing in Tainan, a normally quiet city of 1.9 million.
Days later, dozens missing in rubble
Some of the people still missing are students who attended the nearby Kunshan University.
A woman named Li — she wouldn’t give her full name — has been urgently waiting these last few days for news of her 20-year-old nephew.
“We absolutely will keep waiting — we cannot give up hope, we won’t let our hearts go. We never thought something this terrible could happen to our beloved Tainan, and in the main city area — what are the chances?” Li said tearfully.
The district where Weiguan is located is Tainan’s most densely populated neighborhood, according to city government statistics.
Rescue teams have swarmed the scene, as they continue to dig out the rubble. In between shifts, they rest in a nearby pub. Local restaurants have stayed open to offer food and shelter to family members, while hotels in the area are giving free accommodation to people who have lost their homes.
Emergency medical and military vehicles dot Yongda Road, where the Weiguan Golden Dragon building once stood, in parallel with bright paper lanterns meant to celebrate the usually joyous Chinese New Year holiday.
It’s the biggest annual celebration here, a time for family, friends, laughter and feasts, but there is no festive spirit in the air.
“We are too somber to celebrate the holiday,” said Jerrie Wu, a volunteer who has been handing out snacks and hot drinks to those working on the scene.
Arrest warrants issued
Meanwhile, arrest warrants were issued late Tuesday afternoon for three former executives of the real estate development company that built the Weiguan apartment complex, said Xiao Bo-ren, the Tainan government’s legal affairs secretary.
Lin Ming-hui, former chairman of the now defunct Weiguan company, and two other former executives — Chang Kui-an and Cheng Chin-kui — are wanted on charges of professional negligence resulting in death, Taiwan’s state-owned Central News Agency reported.
Lawyers for all three have been notified that authorities plan to take their clients into custody, Xiao said.
Images that have surfaced of tin cans believed to be used in the construction of the tower have caused city residents to speculate about whether the building company cut corners when the high-rise went up.
“There are so many other older buildings in Tainan that are still standing. Why was it only this building that was completely destroyed?” asked Wang Xingyou, a city cab driver.
Shaking his head woefully, he sighed deeply.
“This is not a happy new year for Tainan.”
Concerns about further collapse
More heavy machinery rolled onto the site Monday night, in preparation for the next phase of the operation: removing debris, layer by layer.
Many onlookers are worried that it may cause concrete slabs to collapse, possibly killing any remaining survivors. So far, equipment has propped up the fallen building during early rescue efforts.
“If there are still people breathing in there and they are harmed now after surviving for days, that would be the greatest tragedy,” said Mao Jiecheng, a chef from Taipei. He rushed down to Tainan, moved to tears after seeing the news, in order to volunteer in relief efforts. He has been preparing food and offering an ear to worried family members awaiting news of loved ones.