One Canadian missing after Taiwan earthquake, says Global Affairs

A partially collapsed building stands at a titled angle a day after a powerful earthquake struck in Hualien City, eastern Taiwan, Thursday, April 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

Global Affairs Canada and Taiwan's top diplomat in Ottawa say a Canadian is missing in Taiwan after the powerful earthquake that hit the island this week.

Global Affairs spokesman Pierre Cuguen says consular officials are providing assistance to the family and are in contact with local authorities.

He says further details can't be released due to privacy concerns.

Taiwan's representative to Canada, Harry Tseng, said earlier that a Canadian was missing after Wednesday's 7.2-magnitude quake, while two tourists from Canada had been "successfully rescued" from a national park.

Tseng said he had no details about the missing person, but the rescued Canadians, who were previously reported to be on a hiking trail in the Taroko Gorge, don't have serious injuries.

He said it was hoped that rescue crews could locate the missing person by the end of Thursday.

Taiwan's semi-official Central News Agency wire service, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says a total of three Canadians were rescued from the quake zone, with a fourth still missing.

Taiwan's firefighting service had said on a Facebook post Wednesday that two Canadians were among a group of people stranded by rock slides on a trail in Taroko National Park, a well-known hiking destination.

Taiwan's Central Emergency Operations Centre said the 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday centred off Hualien County, 150 kilometres south of Taipei, left 10 people dead, with 705 trapped, 11 missing and 1,099 injured.

It was centred off Hualien County, 150 kilometres south of Taipei.

The Central News Agency report said that one Indian national and two Australians were also missing after the quake, and that 71 foreign nationals had been rescued.

"A number of representatives from foreign countries in Taiwan expressed their sincere gratitude to the rescue crews and Taiwan authorities for their terrific support and help," read the report in Chinese.

Tseng said he had been overwhelmed with messages of support and concern from Canadian officials, showing the "strong solidarity between Canada and the people in Taiwan."

He said “the worst is over now."

“People in Taiwan demonstrated our strength, and resilience, and we hope that all those people who are affected can return to their normal lives as soon as possible," he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April. 4, 2024.