A harrowing dashcam video from Taiwan shows a massive boulder crushing a car amid a landslide triggered by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, illustrating the sudden dangers faced by motorists.
Catastrophic Earthquake Unleashes Deadly Landslide in Taiwan In a chilling incident on the morning of April 3, a dashcam in Taiwan recorded a horrifying scene on the highway between Su’ao and Hualien during a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. The video, capturing a landslide’s immediate impact, shows large boulders tumbling down, one of which crushes a vehicle in a matter of seconds.
Dashcam Footage Reveals Moment of Impact The footage details the tense moments leading up to the disaster, with two cars halting abruptly on the highway as the quake strikes, and then attempting to reverse as debris cascades onto the road. A car, positioned ahead of the filming vehicle, suffers a direct hit from a giant boulder, severely damaging its rear.
Eyewitness Account of the Aftermath American resident Jimi Moe, who witnessed the event, recounted assisting the affected driver, a navy personnel en route to duty, ensuring his safe return to Yilan. Remarkably, the driver escaped unscathed from the harrowing ordeal.
Rescue Efforts and Road Closure The incident led to the temporary closure of the affected Su’ao Highway segment, with police and rescue teams working diligently to free the occupants of 32 vehicles ensnared by the landslide. The local transportation bureau confirmed a fatality due to the disaster, with ongoing efforts to restore the crucial transport link.
Restoration and Future Precautions Efforts to repair the damaged highway are underway, with plans to establish a temporary route to facilitate traffic flow expected to materialize by the evening of April 6. This event has prompted a reevaluation of disaster preparedness and response mechanisms in the region, underlining the need for increased vigilance and safety measures in earthquake-prone areas.