On the fourth day after the Hualien earthquake on April 3, Tzu Chi volunteers have continued to actively engage in post-disaster relief efforts. Besides addressing the immediate needs of survivors in the city area of Hualien, Tzu Chi volunteers from northern Taiwan have also mobilized to aid other severely affected communities. Collaborating with police and fire departments, they have supplied materials for airdrops, enabling rescue teams to distribute essential items to people still trapped in the mountainous areas, alleviating food shortages.

A total of 636 people had been stranded mostly in the area near the Silks Place Taroko Hotel in Tianxiang. The Highway Bureau has been working vigorously to repair the eastern section of the Central Cross-Island Highway and have begun to gradually evacuate the stranded on the afternoon of the 6th.

On April 4, the Hualien County Police Department stated that with roads cut, both police officers and civilians were left stranded in the mountainous area with food supply becoming a concern. Chief Inspector Jian-zhong Jiang of the Hualien County Police Department contacted Tzu Chi to help provide supplies while the Air Force helped with airlifting them to the Tianxiang area, alleviating the food shortage crisis.

Responding swiftly, Tzu Chi mobilized essential supplies such as instant noodles, Fuhui porridge, dry rations, rice, bread, noodles, and rice noodles. These supplies were promptly delivered to the Xincheng Police Substation of the Hualien County Police Department for airlifting to the stranded people on the early morning of April 5. Working in collaboration with the police, the supplies were loaded onto helicopters, which were then airlifted by the Air Force to the Tianxiang Service Station. As of the afternoon of April 6, over 300 people remained trapped in the mountains, with the majority located in the Tianxiang area.

Furthermore, on the afternoon of April 5, Tzu Chi received requests for supplies from the Xiulin Township Office for residents in the mountainous areas. In response, the relief team worked to dispatch supplies including instant noodles, rice, cooking oil, salt, and masks. These supplies were divided into two routes: one was sent via Taiwan Railway Administration shuttle trains to the Heping Station, and the other was delivered directly to the Xiulin Township Office.

On the 5th, simultaneously, Tzu Chi also established a disaster service center at the Cisheng Temple in Hualien. They provided emergency cash and blessings to 102 households in the Lotus Tower, along with a letter of blessings from Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi volunteers worldwide.

On the 6th, besides continuing to support residents temporarily sheltered at Zhonghua Elementary School and Hua Ren Junior High School, Tzu Chi also established a disaster service center at Zhongyuan Elementary School. They provided emergency cash and ongoing care to the 150 households affected by the disaster at the Fuyu Jinghua Building.

Article by Yi-qian Chen and Hualien County Police Department