Two Hours of Bewilderment in the Taiwan High Speed Rail Car after the Jiasian Earthquake

Associate Vice President for Research and Development
Professor, Department of Political Science & Institute of Political Economy, National Cheng Kung University

I was stuck in the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) car for two hours after the Jiasian Earthquake hit Taiwan on the morning of March 4^th.

During the “lengthy” two hours, the passengers were left in bewilderment and panic because no clue was given. What the passengers needed to know was: WHY the sudden stop? Though the THSR staff had made several brief announcement broadcasts, they mainly asked the passengers to wait patiently with little further explanation. My company and I had to use our cell phones to realize that a major earthquake had just happened.   

After almost an hour, it was getting heater and heater in the coach, the conductor ordered to open a door on one side, but warned the passengers not to go near it. Another half hour passed, the passengers were losing their patience since the airflow in the coach was not improving. The conductor ordered to open the door on the other side. However, this only improved the airflow near the door, and the air quality was still bad in the passenger seat area.

Shortly, THSR staff announced that passengers could leave the car for evacuation. After about 3/5 passengers had left the car, they added that there were emergency escape ladders in the 1^st and 6^th coaches. Many passengers had already jumped to the ground; a lot of them fell and were hurt.         

After all passengers walked for about 500 meters, there gathered about 800 passengers on the Huwei ground, all in perplexity and did not know what the next arrangement would be.

Fortunately, a transit shuttle appeared in about 10 minutes and we were taken to the transit destinations smoothly.

Now I am back. What a day!


Design & Layout : Barry Wu
Translation : Helen Chang, The Banyan Editorial Office

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