Dalai Lama, CTA President Prays For Taiwan Earthquake Victims
By Tsering Choephel
DHARAMSALA, 4 April: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed sadness over the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake that struck Taiwan yesterday morning.
Extending his prayers to those deceased and injured as a result of the disasters, the Dalai Lama said in a missive addressed to Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, “I offer my condolences to Your Excellency and to the families of all who have been affected by this tragedy.”
“I commend your Government and its concerned agencies for their swift response as they seek to rescue the injured and provide relief to those who need help,” the Dalai Lama added.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the head of the Central Tibetan Administration, also expressed sympathies and prayers on behalf of the CTA and the Tibetans in his letter to Tsai Ing-wen, tibet.net, the official website of the CTA, reports today.
“Our thoughts and prayers are particularly with those who have lost their beloved ones, sustained injuries, and endured losses as a result of this tragic event,” he wrote, adding “I wish to convey my deepest sympathies to those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones due to this calamity. Additionally, I extend my sincere admiration to the countless individuals who are tirelessly providing emergency support and engaging in rescue efforts on the ground.”
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit the Carsten county of Hualien, Taiwan, yesterday morning shortly before 8 am according to multiple reports online. Noted as the strongest earthquake to hit Taiwan in 25 years, the disaster has claimed nine lives and injured more than 1000 people and many are missing, as per the BBC report today. As seen in videos and photos online, the earthquake has caused the collapse of buildings, bridges and the destruction of many properties.
The earthquake, as per the report, was followed by more than 200 aftershocks, dozens of which were around 6.5 magnitudes in force. The search and rescue efforts have been actively working since yesterday.
The last major earthquake that hit Taiwan was 7.6 magnitude in September 1999, killing around 2400 people, and recorded as the deadliest natural disaster in the island’s history.
