TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A driver captured dramatic footage of large boulders falling and crushing a car on the highway between Su’ao and Hualien at the moment the 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan on Wednesday (April 3).
The footage shows two cars slow to a stop just before 8 a.m. when the earthquake hit, after which they both reverse as large rocks fall on the road. A hatchback in front of the driver with the dashcam was hit by a large rock, crushing its rear.
American in Taiwan Jimi Moe was passing by at the time of the rockfall and told Taiwan News that he drove the owner of the crushed car back to Yilan. Both were unharmed by the rockfall.
GPS coordinates on the dashcam footage place the cars just south of the bridge that crosses the Daqingshui River (大清水溪), a part of the Su’ao Highway that remains closed as of Thursday.
Video shows the moment a car is hit by falling rock on the Su'ao Highway. (Facebook video)
Police said they had rescued the occupants of 32 trapped vehicles along the section of road where the rockfall was captured, per PTS. The local transportation bureau said that one person died after their vehicle was crushed by falling rocks.
Crews have been dispatched to repair the affected parts of the Su’ao Highway. It is expected that a temporary access road will be opened on Saturday evening to allow traffic through.
