Partial collapse of Hualien’s Full Hotel raises safety concerns

2024-04-23

The Full Hotel had partially collapsed during Hualien’s recent earthquakes. But the building had not previously been listed as risky or unsafe. The collapse of an apparently sound building has left locals fearing for the safety of their homes.

Member of public
During the earthquake and the shaking, the noise was so scary, it was impossible to sleep. So I just drove out in the car and slept here.

Member of public
That’s right, I ran outside. I didn’t dare to sleep last night.

Hu Ren-shun
Hualien County councilor
It is apparent that in Hualien City, there are still many cases of a building being damaged, but the owner not reporting it. I think that the Hualien County government should take responsibility for this and take proactive action.

After the April 3 earthquake, locals reported dozens of damaged buildings, and inspectors designated just over 100 of them as unsafe or risky to inhabit. But a local councilor says there are many more damaged buildings that have gone unreported or unnoticed. He wants the local government to carry out its own building inspections, so that locals no longer need to live in fear.

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富凱大飯店未被列"紅黃單" 餘震衝擊突然倒了

2024-04-23

餘震不斷，花蓮又新增兩棟大樓坍塌傾斜，民眾嚇到不敢睡覺，尤其其中一棟倒塌的富凱飯店，根本沒被列入紅黃單、不在列管範圍，卻突然倒了，讓民眾擔心自家建築安全。

[[民眾]]
“地震搖的時候那個晃，聲音很恐怖睡不著，乾脆開車子來在這邊睡”

[[民眾]]
“對啊，都跑出來，晚上都不敢睡”

[[花蓮縣議員胡仁順]]
“我們看得出來花蓮市還是有非常多原本結構受損，但是屋主沒有通報的案件存在，我想我們花蓮縣政府應該要扛起這樣的責任，主動出擊”

算一算，403地震後，花蓮受損建物黃單57件、1137戶，紅單54件，總共802戶。民代要求縣府應該介入清查，負起責任，若不能確保房屋結構安全無虞，恐怕花蓮居民時時刻刻都得活在恐懼之下。

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Two buildings partially collapse in Hualien after series of earthquakes

Over the past two days, Hualien has been rocked by a string of earthquakes, including two over magnitude 6. The quakes led to the partial collapse of two buildings in Hualien. One was a hotel that had been vacant due to renovations. The other was a residential building that was heavily damaged after the April 3 quake. No casualties were reported.

At 2:26 a.m., a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Hualien, sending the Full Hotel building tilting to one side.

Police and firefighters rushed to the scene, calling out to potential casualties. During the rescue effort, another earthquake struck.

First responders cordoned off the area to prevent public access. After inspecting the site, they confirmed that the hotel was empty, as it had been closed for renovations. No casualties were reported.

Teng Zeu-yu
Hualien County Economic Affairs Department
We’re starting by dismantling public facilities in the vicinity, such as that traffic light. The procedure will be similar to the demolition of the Uranus Building. We’ll fill in the ground first to provide support to the building, so that it doesn’t tilt as much.

The temblor also further tilted the Tong Shuai Building, which was unoccupied after being marked for demolition following the April 3 earthquake. The first floor caved in, leaving the second floor at ground level. The Hualien County government established a disaster response command center, and Commissioner Hsu Chen-wei proceeded to the scene soon after.

Tong Shuai Building spokesperson
The building had already been marked for demolition. They had put support beams on the side. It was all normal before 5 or 6 today. But this last time, when we tried to go near after 5, they didn’t let us through.

Teng Zeu-yu
Hualien County Economic Affairs Department
If reinforcements can come over immediately, demolition work can start at the Tong Shuai Building. Due to the building’s size, the process should take about two weeks.

Work and classes were suspended in Hualien on Tuesday. The county government has advised residents to stay in open spaces in case another quake strikes.

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2024-04-23

Quake cluster closes roads, damages bridge in Hualien

Widespread damage has been reported in Hualien as a result of the quakes. At Xiulin Township, the piers of Tongmen Bridge were shifted out of place, and big cracks have appeared on the asphalt. Provincial Highway 8 is now closed off to traffic until repairs are made and debris is cleared. Taroko National Park will remain closed until May 7.

Here at Hualien’s Xiulin Township, the bridge’s piers have been displaced. This is the Tongmen Bridge, the only access road to the Mukumugi Valley. Large cracks appeared on the asphalt after the quakes.

Chung Ming-hsien
Dowmung Village
We’re still getting a lot of aftershocks, everyone is scared. Even I haven’t slept. We don’t know how much damage the bridge has sustained.

After a preliminary assessment, it was determined that the misalignment was caused by loosened soil. Though the bridge is still passable, traffic has been limited to just one direction at a time to ensure safety.

At the 34.5 kilometer mark of Provincial Highway 11, excavators clear large rocks blocking Mingde Tunnel and push them to the side of the road. Landslides have left debris on the road and eroded its foundation. Over at Provincial Highway 8, rockslides have blocked the eastern section connecting Tianxiang and Taroko in many areas. The road has been closed. Its reopening on Wednesday will depend on the progress of repairs.

On Monday afternoon, Silks Place Taroko Hotel announced that it would remain closed until June 30. Taroko National Park will remain closed until May 7. One Hualien resident reported seeing a large swarm of millipedes on the road Monday evening, leading himto suspect that a big earthquake was on its way.

Mr. Wu
Hualien resident
It was along the riverside near Tzu Chi Elementary School. I was taking a stroll and saw that the ground next to the gazebo was covered with millipedes. We walk past there every day and had never seen that before.

At the Qixingtan Security Checkpoint, a security camera captured a dog running amok during a temblor. Surveillance at Nanbin Park shows trees swaying. At Dashibishan in Fengbin Township, the shaking was so intense that it sent a camera toppling over. Tuesday’s cluster of quakes left Hualien all shook up.

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2024-04-23

Missed out on earthquake alerts? Here’s why

2024-04-23

AI singing platform creates official versions of Chinese-speakers’ voices

In the rising world of AI, Taiwan has a new AI voice platform. It specializes in creating official versions of Chinese speakers’ voices. A special song featuring the voices of four beloved folk singers has been released to mark the platform going online. Users will be able to put their own compositions and lyrics on the platform, and get them sung by one of these beloved singers within two or three minutes.

Four folk singers collaborated on this new release. But the whole track, from the singers’ voice to the music video, was made by AI.

Li Ming-teh
Singer
I can tell my grandson, “Grandpa sang this song,” and then he’ll say he doesn’t believe it. And I’ll say, “No, really, we recorded it 60 years ago.”

This is the first time these singers have heard their own voices produced by AI.

The singer faces off against her AI rival, showing just how lifelike the imitation is. She says she likes to listen to it.

Fan Yi-wen
Singer
It’s just like my real voice. I don’t usually sing such high ranges, songs in such high keys. So when I heard it, it was very interesting.

Tu Pei-tsen
Singer
It gave me goosebumps. I feel touched. I personally feel it’s very like myvoice’s real timbre.

The driving forces behind the AI music platform are Taiwan AI Labs founder Ethan Tu, and famous campus singer Li Chien-fu.

Li Chien-fu
Singer
It took way less time and money, because, for example, getting a singer into the studio means you have to pay the singer, pay for the studio. All that is a burden on the creator.

Ethan Tu
Taiwan AI Labs founder
In the past, people were always talking about “deepfakes” which were pirate versions and imitations. But we use the same profit-sharing model, and we tidy up the workflows. We’re telling people this could be the future model of the AI voice economy.

Fake voices abound on the internet already. But a platform like this shows that an official AI voice can beat a pirate version. The project gives artists protections and works with a charity for the visually impaired, and gives more creators a platform to make music.

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2024-04-23

Hualien night market to launch voucher programs to draw crowds back

2024-04-23

Six more Cabinet members announced, including finance, agriculture ministers

More officials have been named to the Lai administration’s Cabinet. Premier-designate Cho Jung-tai announced six appointments, including the ministers of finance and agriculture. The lineup is mostly familiar faces. The one newcomer is Chen Shu-tzu, who will head the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics. Chen had served in the Tainan City government when Lai Ching-te was mayor. She is credited with reducing Tainan’s expenses and expanding its financial resources.

More appointments have been unveiled for Cho Jung-tai’s Cabinet. They’re mostly familiar faces, with the exception of Chen Shu-tzu, who will head the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics. When Lai Ching-te served as Tainan mayor, Chen headed the city’s Research, Development and Evaluation Commission. She turned Tainan from a debt-wracked city to a model for financial management.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier-designate
She helped reduce Tainan’s debt significantly, and set aside a budget for water management. She excels in both saving funds and expanding financial resources. I’m not exaggerating in the slightest.

Chen Shu-tzu
Statistics minister-designate
Reducing national debt is a must. If we want healthy finances, that’s something we’ll have to do. But at the same time, we have to take into account Taiwan’s economic development.

Remaining in their current posts will be Minister of Finance Chuang Tsui-yun, Overseas Community Affairs Council Minister Hsu Chia-ching, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling and Directorate-General of Personnel Administration Director Su Chun-jung. Meanwhile, acting Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih will formally take up the role. Amid criticism over the low proportion of women in previous appointments, four of the six posts announced on Tuesday went to women.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier-designate
I’m relieved that we are announcing several women today. It’s just how the Cabinet is taking shape. We didn’t deliberately arrange to announce the women Cabinet heads today. We’re just following the order that was established previously.

Twenty-seven days remain until Lai’s inauguration. Ministers without portfolio, and positions related to national security, are expected to be announced later this week.

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2024-04-23

China ramps up military activity ahead of Taiwan’s Inauguration Day

2024-04-23

Bookings begin for Alishan’s Vivid Express ahead of May 24 launch

Bookings have opened for the one-of-a-kind Vivid Express, which will run along Chiayi’s Alishan starting May 24. The newly remodeled train features a transparent cockpit and seats that swivel 360 degrees. It’s being managed by a travel agency, which will also offer tours on the Formosensis train later this summer. The launch of the two trains comes ahead of the full reopening of the Alishan Forest Railway on July 1.

The Alishan Forest Railway’s Vivid Express pulls into the platform.

Its design is inspired by the plumage of the collared bush robin, a bird commonly found in Alishan. The seats can swivel 360 degrees, so that passengers can soak in the view.

Passenger
It’s quite novel. It’s great. The seats rotate 360 degrees.

Passenger
This is a fully remodeled train. They even have a tour guide to talk us through the sights. It feels quite fresh and the service is great.

The Vivid Express will start operations on May 24. The Formosensis, which has already completed its trials, will enter service in June or July. Both trains are managed by a travel agency under a six-year license. Packaged tours are on offer.

Huang Min-hui
Chiayi City mayor
What we’re going after right now is quality, not quantity. The launch of the Vivid Express marks the beginning of this pursuit of quality.

Due to heavy damage from Typhoon Morakot and Typhoon Dujuan, service on the Alishan Forest Railway has been limited for 15 years. Last year, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency rebuilt the railway’s Tunnel No. 42, paving the way for a full reopening by July 1 of this year.

In light of a recent string of earthquakes, the railway operator plans to use ground-penetrating radar to monitor the tracks in the future.

Huang Miao-hsiu
Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office head
Before we start operations each day, every line on the rail will be inspected by our team. We will conduct a thorough check after any earthquake above a Level 3. If an earthquake occurs during an inspection, we’ll run the inspection again to ensure safety.

The Vivid Express and Formosensis will be extra services that won’t affect the existing timetable, the rail operator says. Once they’re up and running, each train will make one round trip each day, giving visitors a new way to experience Alishan.

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2024-04-23

Venues demonstrate boutique weddings to woo couples

According to the Ministry of the Interior, 125,000 couples got married in Taiwan last year, returning to pre-pandemic levels. Venues have taken note as couples gravitate toward smaller, boutique weddings, rather than large traditional banquets. To seize this NT$40 billion market, venues are holding model weddings ahead of the peak season.

A couple gazes lovingly at one another, smiling as they celebrate the beginning of their new lives together.

This five-star hotel is organizing a demonstration wedding day. In total, 40 couples are led through the entire experience from their entrance, to vows and performances.

Wu Chia-ying
Hotel marketing director
Before the pandemic, hotels would host an average of 250 or more weddings in a year with 30 or 40 tables each. Now they’re smaller, mostly about 15 to 20 tables. They’re more willing to spend on entertainment or food.

Newlyweds
We’ve compared five or six places. As for the quality of the venue, the budget and food, we have to compromise and discuss with our families.

Newlyweds
Maybe about 30 tables for NT$20,000 to NT$25,000 each. We care about whether the interior has been updated and whether the setup is to our expectations.

To appeal better to the tastes of the younger generation, this venue is offering European-style floral arrangements and individual plates rather than banquet food. It has also invited 12 cake, dress and photography businesses for the couples’ convenience.

Photographer
At the first meeting I get a lot of contacts of new customers and couples, then follow up with them later. I end up signing contracts with more than 60%.

Tailor
If it’s a Western style wedding, they’ll usually go all-out and get a white wedding gown and an evening dress.

Marriages bounced back to pre-pandemic levels last year with 125,000 couples getting married, creating a market worth an estimated NT$40 billion. This year is expected to be the same or rise by 10%. These kinds of exhibitions are key as the industry prepares for the upcoming peak season.

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2024-04-23

Smartphone market updates: Samsung stays level as Huawei hammers Apple

It’s a changeable time in the smartphone industry. Late last year, Apple overtook Samsung as the world’s biggest smartphone supplier. But in the first quarter of this year, that was reversed, with Samsung back in the top spot. New launches from Huawei are having a big impact on the market, primarily taking Chinese custom away from Apple, which has seen huge sales falls so far this year. Meanwhile, Samsung just launched a new AI phone that is drawing lots of attention, while Apple’s latest model won’t be out until September.

With a 50 MP lens, this phone has very superior camera functions, and with a few clicks, you can delete passersby from the photo. Another brand has launched the first AI phone, offering real-time translation on phone calls, as well as summaries of articles. Many brands launched new flagship phones in the first quarter of 2024, with cutting-edge functions aimed at reinvigorating the flagging phone market.

Kao Hung-hsiang
IDC research manager
Shipment of AI phones could exceed AI PCs this year. Looking at the apps that exist now, there aren’t any really market-beating applications, so I wonder if they will be able to stimulate much demand for phone upgrades.

Analysts are not convinced the new AI functions will convince users to trade in their phones for new models. Research from market analytics firm IDC showed that 289 million new smartphones were shipped in the first quarter of 2024, a growth of 7.8% from the same period last year.

Samsung has come back to the top spot, holding 20.8% of the market. The new flagship and flip phones from Huawei last year were a blow for Apple, which now occupies just 17.3% of the market. In at No. 3 is Xiaomi with 14.1%.

Kao Hung-hsiang
IDC research manager
Huawei will probably have a very noticeable comeback this year. So other manufacturers will probably see very weak growth or even stay level. In order of the magnitude of impact, it should be Apple, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and Honor.

Experts say that Samsung’s new S24 series launched earlier this year shipped over 60 million units in Q1, representing contraction of 0.7% compared to that period last year. Apple shipped 50.1 million units, shrinking 10% year-on-year. But the Chinese firm Xiaomi grew 33% in the same period. It’s a turbulent time for the phone industry, and analysts are watching to see if changes are afoot in the supply chain.

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2024-04-23

Kinmen Swimming races to kick off in July

2024-04-23