An earthquake hit Chinese island Taiwan in the districts of Nanton a Taichung on 21 September 1999 at 1.45 a.m. The Nanton district was affected by earthquake of 8 – 8.2 degree in Richter’s scale, and the Taichung district was affected by earthquake of 6 degree in Richter’s scale. Total number of 1,185 casualties, 6,190 injured, and 10,984 destroyed buildings.
At 3 p.m. of the same day it was decided to send a reduced unit of 5 dog handlers plus dogs, composed of members of the Canine Rescue Brigades Association, which made up the official Czech MI unit. The unit was supplemented by one coordinator from the ADRA humanitarian organisation, and a representative from the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The unit departed the same day at 7.45 p.m. from Prague. Arriving to Taipei, they continued by bus for 145 km to the town of Puli. The unit arrived to the affected area at night and found that main local coordinators – regardless of the disaster in place - were sleeping. The unit then launched rescue operations on their own hook (after deal with security guards in venue).
Rescuing of people from collapsed buildings was the main intervention activity in disaster area.
More detailed information:
Departure: 21 September 1999 at 19:45 from Prague to Taipei through Frankfurt and Bangkok
Arrival: 27 September 1999 at 09:05 from Taipei to Prague through Bangkok and Frankfurt
Transport: air lines – no special aircraft was deployed
Accommodation: in tents
Meals: from own supplies
Outside temperature: up to 35°C in day time
Number of extricated persons in total: only 6 alive
Number of extricated persons by the Czech unit:
Number of surveyed buildings by the Czech unit: 68
Total of 700 rescuers and 500 dogs operated in the disaster area!
Taiwan 1999 - Erthquake
19.1.2007 12:35:21