The earthquake that struck central Taiwan early Sunday morning -- registering 6.7 on the Richter scale -- has put the fear of damage from natural disasters back into the minds of residents. Granted, the destruction caused by Sunday's quake was nothing compared to the damage from September's tremor. Still, the quake loosened topsoil which could lead to mudslides and further loss of life and property when the summer rains begin to pour down on Taiwan. We should be prepared for a season of disasters.
Two died and 36 were injured on Sunday, but luckily there have been few reports of collapsed houses, buckled roads, or communities left without water or electricity. The tremor was the first test of the new administration's reaction to natural disasters. Just three minutes after the quake, Premier Tang Fei (
A quick reaction to the earthquake, however, does not mean that the government will pass a tougher examination: dealing with reconstruction in the aftermath of last year's quake. One of the reasons that the KMT lost the presidential race was due to the massive swell of negative public opinion over how the former ruling party handled reconstruction efforts.
The new Cabinet discussed quake reconstruction during the first Cabinet-level meeting, showing the emphasis placed on reconstruction efforts. But Sunday's quake has reminded us that many people are still living in temporary shelters in quake-affected areas, and are ready to flee their homes to safer areas at a moment's notice. We should continue to keep an eye on how the government helps people in central Taiwan to get their lives back to normal. The new administration has appointed three ministers without portfolio: Tsay Ching-yen (
Sunday's quake also reminded residents of the importance of preventative measures. A framework to coordinate disaster rescue and reconstruction efforts is still in the Legislative Yuan. We call on Taiwan's legislature to give this legislation top priority. It should be passed before the rainy seasons of July and August bring further disasters to the lives, livelihood and property of the people of Taiwan. Furthermore, a clear chain of command should be included in the legislation, giving a legal basis and sufficient funds for the agencies in charge of rescue and reconstruction efforts. Enough resources should be made available for rescue agencies to carry out training and provide efficient disaster relief when mother nature is less kind to Taiwan.
Sunday's quake was both an aftershock of last year's tremor, and an earthquake in its own right. It reminded us that there is still much damage to repair from last year's quake. We cannot let down our guard because of the minor damage caused by Sunday's tremor. Nature's warning cannot be ignored.
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