When the first military units arrived, they had to use simple tools to dig under debris, as they did not want to waste a minute of the “golden 72 hours after the disaster,” which are considered the most crucial to saving lives in an emergency.
The 8th Army Corps stationed in the south later sent in more engineering and medical personnel, who brought with them heavy-duty equipment to help clear debris and facilitate the restoration of traffic and communications.
Day and night, the soldiers grappled with the task of shifting piles of rubble in what was one of the most scenic places in Taiwan, Chen said.
Some of the young soldiers were traumatized by the sight of bodies and people’s suffering and required psychological counseling, he said.
The first stage of the military operation focused on rescuing people. Later, it shifted to post-quake relief, which was divided into two major phases: clearing the rubble and constructing houses to shelter those left homeless by the quake, Chen said.
The 921 earthquake killed more than 2,400 people and caused billions of dollars in losses, but the tragedy galvanized the nation. Donations and support from the public poured in and the military worked closely with the public sector during the disaster recovery period.
Chen said the military had rapidly mobilized from top to bottom, adding that rescue operations were a “brilliant unified effort.”
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