A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan (China) this week, marking the strongest earthquake in the past 25 years in Taiwan, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 1,100 others.

On April 5, according to the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, no Vietnamese casualties were recorded in this historic earthquake. Meanwhile, the Office continued to discuss with Vietnamese associations in Taiwan to closely watch the situation.

Trieu Thi Anh, a Vietnamese in the Hualien district, said that after the earthquake, Vietnamese women married to Taiwanese in the Hualien area immediately called each other to ask if there were any damages. Luckily, all the families were in good situation, though everyone was scared. Anh said, about 40-50 minutes by car from where she lives, houses collapsed, mountains crumpled, people died and were injured.

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred on the morning of April 3 in Taiwan, China. (Photo: Kyodo/VNA)

From what she knew, during the earthquake, Vietnamese workers left delightful imprints in the hearts of Hualien people as they joined hands with local people to save those in collapsed houses.

On April 3, a local media channel published an article about a Vietnamese nurse in Miaoli who, in the face of danger, calmly and timely turned off the electrical system and helped the homeowner evacuate. She was praised for being professional in handling the situation.

Dinh Thi Nhuong, an employee of the Nam Dau District Labor Office, said that when encountering the earthquake, Vietnamese newcomers were confused and frightened. However, she encouraged them to continue their work. Earthquakes often happen in Taiwan, though their intensity differs from area to area. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese government does good training and rescue activities.

Nhuong said that labor offices in different districts across Taiwan have established networks to share information about foreign workers, so they can quickly grasp information in case foreign workers have problems. Currently, no casualties involving Vietnamese people have been recorded.

Tran Duc Cuong, general manager of foreign workers at Ho-master Taiwan Manpower Brokerage Co., Ltd in Taipei, said that agencies and factories in Taiwan regularly organize earthquake prevention training for foreign workers. Currently, all employees are gradually becoming mentally stabilized.

The recent earthquake caused damage to many facilities in Hualien district, including Donghua University. After the earthquake, a building in the school's Institute of Science and Technology caught fire. The initial cause was believed to be a fault in the electrical circuit system.

According to the school's announcement, the damage was estimated at NT$400 million, affecting the departments of Chemistry, Physics, and Materials Technology. Many samples and research results were also heavily damaged. After the fire, Donghua University also contacted several universities such as Tzu Chi University, Yilan University, and Taitung University to ensure continuity in research and teaching.

Le Quoc Dai, a second-year graduate student at Donghua University, said that the university is trying its best to facilitate the research and study of students and trainees, including Vietnamese graduate students so that they can graduate on schedule.

Vu Mai Anh, a second-year graduate student at Donghua University, said that Vietnamese students studying at the school still feel quite stressed. As it is holiday time in Taiwan, the Vietnamese students often gather to cook and encourage each other to get through the difficult days. Thanks to such encouragement, Vietnamese people in Taiwan could overcome difficulties and continue to study and work in a land far from home.

Connecting Foreigners Living In Dong Nai Province Dong Nai Province is home to many foreigners and international students living and working in Vietnam, creating opportunities for cultural exchange activities.

Angola Commits to Creating Favorable Conditions for Vietnamese Investors The Angolan side assessed that this working visit to Angola led by Vietnamese Minister Nguyen Kim Son demonstrated the good relationship between the two countries.

Vietnamese Delegation Provides Health Check-ups for Needy People in Savannakhet About 30 officers, doctors, pharmacists of the Health Department, sponsors, and volunteers, led by Vu Thi Huynh Mai, head of the Ho Chi Minh City ...