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Taiwan government officials, leaders of major denominations, representatives of NGO groups and concerned citizens attended the training sessions introducing the Networking System as well as advanced training sessions held within the year. |
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RESPONSE
TAIPEI, Taiwan (BP)--Baptists and other Christian groups began ministering to survivors almost immediately after Taiwan's worst recorded earthquake rocked the island Sept. 21.
The quake, which measured between 7.6 and 7.9 on the Richter scale, killed at least 1,600 people, with the toll expected to rise and more than 1,000 people still missing. It injured thousands and left an estimated 100,000 people homeless. Central Taiwan sustained heavy damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure, especially in the city of Taichung and in Nantou County -- location of the quake's epicenter about 90 miles south of Taipei, which also sustained damage.
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Medical facilities are "extremely stressed' in central Taiwan, Cunnyngham said, and water supplies are feared contaminated.
"We're checking with local contacts to see if there will be the need to offer [water purification] equipment in the next day or two," Cunnyngham, said. "We also anticipate assisting various Christian groups in financing their relief efforts in addition to the assistance provided today in Taipei."
U.S.-based Southern Baptist disaster relief specialists Bob Simpkins and Cameron Byler, who held disaster response training seminars in Taiwan just six months ago, are contacting officials in Taiwan to investigate other assistance.
Bringing Simpkins and Byler to Taiwan was "the Lord's guidance, we see clearly now," said missionary Thad Puckett in Taipei. "[They did] training for Christian groups in how to respond to just this type of disaster. They also held mock earthquake drills with the very governmental agencies now having to coordinate the relief efforts. God is amazing in providing for the needs of this island." |
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"We're OK," Puckett said. "It was one heck of a big ride, though -- big, strong, long and loud. It went on and on. [It was] difficult to walk at first. Two very big aftershocks came within 20 minutes, which let us know this one wasn't like the other earthquakes we had been through here in Taiwan. There have been 1,000 aftershocks since then, with about 10 over 5.0 on Richter scale.
Officials warned of the likelihood of another major earthquake within seven days.
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-- End of story -- |
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