HUALIEN (TVBS News) — The demolition of the Uranus Building in Hualien County continued on Monday (April 8), with many residents on-site watching their belongings fall from their homes, expressing mixed emotions.
The Uranus Building, located in Hualien City, was severely tilted in a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that shook all of Taiwan on April 3. The building was confirmed for demolition due to the extensive damage.
Watching the heavy machinery destroy their homes, the residents could only express helplessness, saying, "This is a natural disaster. There's nothing we can do," and "The items are all damaged when they're pulled out. It's a miracle if we can find anything."
The suddenness of the earthquake left many residents unable to retrieve their belongings. For structural safety reasons, residents were not allowed to enter the building to retrieve their items. Instead, onsite personnel picked up items during demolition and handed them to the police.
Hualien County police set up two "Lost and Found Collection Stations" next to the Uranus Building to assist residents in retrieving personal items possibly left in the building. If valuable or sentimental items are found, they are immediately sent to the collection station.
Items that can be identified are claimed directly at the "Lost and Found Collection Station." Unidentifiable items are sent to the police station for registration and can be claimed later by residents with relevant proof.