TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan has become a disaster rescue team for the Asia Pacific, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said on the 25th anniversary of the deadly 921 earthquake Saturday (Sept. 21).

The magnitude 7.3 quake struck Jiji in the central county of Nantou in the early morning of Sept. 21, 1999. The death toll reached 2,400, with many people buried inside collapsed apartment buildings across the country.

The president visited the ruins of Guangfu Junior High School in Taichung’s Wufeng District on Saturday to mark the anniversary, per CNA. The damaged buildings have been kept as an earthquake museum open to the public.

Lai noted how the day after countries, including Canada, Japan, the US, Singapore, South Korea, and Germany sent rescue teams to help save survivors. Several of the rescuers were in Taiwan to attend the commemorative activities.

A quarter of a century after the devastating earthquake, Taiwan has become a country able to help others during disasters, Lai said. He quoted the example of an earthquake in Turkey last year when Taiwan immediately dispatched a team to help track down survivors.

Not only have Taiwan’s rescue workers reached international standards, but they have also trained 53 dogs that received international certification for disaster rescue work, Lai said. As a result, the country could provide rapid assistance to other countries in need, he added.