There was a BIG earthquake, but we’re ok!

Tonight, Michael and I felt the biggest earthquake since we’ve been in Taiwan, a 6.4! At the time I was at a friend’s apartment, on the seventh story – the grand piano was rocking back and forth and the heavily laden bookshelves swayed. The whole building was moving like it was made of jello. The two other women and I grabbed our things and tried to get out the door, but the locks wouldn’t come open and the door was stuck in its frame. This was after more than 15 seconds or so, which is a really long time in earthquake-land! Finally we got the door open, but by that time the heavy rocking had stopped. We waited through the aftershocks, then took our coats off and went back to practicing for tomorrow’s Christmas service.
Michael was in our bedroom at home, in a much older apartment, and said he actually held up his hand in belief it would protect him from the falling ceiling.
What a night!

MAJOR EARTHQUAKE STRIKES TAIWAN; FOUR INJURED, MINOR DAMAGE IN TAIPEI AND NEAR EPICENTER
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP)
TAIPEI, Taiwan — A large earthquake struck Taiwan on Saturday night, causing some injuries and damage in the capital of Taipei as well as damage near the quake’s epicenter.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the 6.4-magnitude quake was centred off the eastern coast of Taiwan, about 15 miles (25 kilometres) from Hualien. It struck at a depth of about 30 miles (45 kilometres). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not immediately issue any warning.
Buildings shook in the capital for over twenty seconds after the quake struck.
“It was the strongest quake to hit Taiwan this year,” said Kuo Kai-wen, head of the Seismology Centre at Taiwan’s central weather bureau.
Local TV reported at least four people in the capital had minor injuries, most resulting from falling debris. The reports said traffic Taipei’s subways and the island’s high speed railroad was suspended.
TV stations also reported that windows were blown out in a Hualien hotel and that there was minor property damage in Taipei.Taiwan is located in one of the most seismologically active areas of the world and registers a large number of quakes every year. Earthquakes frequently rattle Taiwan but most are minor and cause little or no damage.
However, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people. And in 2006 a 6.7-magnitude tremor south of Kaohsiung severed undersea cables and disrupted telephone and Internet service to millions throughout Asia.