6.1 quake causes Christmas Eve chaos in Taitung

6.1 quake causes Christmas Eve chaos in Taitung

2025-12-25

What began as a warm and joyful Christmas Eve quickly turned frightening on Wednesday, as a powerful 6.1 quake struck in Taitung. The seismic shock shook buildings and sent people running outside for safety. From shops, schools and homes to a prison facility and a columbarium. The quake caused damage across Taitung, leaving scenes of chaos, but thankfully, no reports of serious injuries.

A gift exchange on Christmas Eve was cut short when the ground started shaking, sending the group of more than 20 students screaming in fear.

At this boba shop, tea coolers fell to the ground, spilling drinks all over the floor and creating a complete mess. Staff dashed outside as items on the counters toppled over.

A man using the toilet didn’t have time to put his clothes on and rushed out, bare-butt.

Village chief
Mulivelivek
We’ve had strong shaking since the 1999 Jiji earthquake, but none as strong as this. Even people sitting outside were scared. It was really strong.

A concrete and brick wall collapsed at a field near the city. CCTV footage shows the 50m wall swaying side to side before coming crashing down. Fortunately, the rice had already been harvested.

A wall also damaged at the Yanwan Training Institute at Taitung Prison, raising concerns about a jailbreak. Authorities say staff and inmates were unharmed and nobody escaped.

Over at a sports high school in Taitung, an entire section of the ceiling came crashing down, walls cracked and water pipes burst and leaked. Though the school looked like it was bombed, nobody was injured.

Lin Te-chuan
High school secretary
We immediately evacuated the students and had them wait outside. Staff inspected the dormitories after the quake. Students living nearby could call their families to be taken home.

The quake even disturbed the dead at Chao’an Columbarium, where nine urns on the 5th floor were toppled over, scattering ashes over the floor. Fortunately the remains did not mix together.

The quake disrupted the peace and quiet on Christmas Eve, but thankfully, there were no major disasters.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#quake #earthquake #taitung #Christmaseve

平安夜6.1強震波及台東體中受損.納骨塔骨灰罈破碎

2025-12-25

昨天（24）平安夜傍晚，台東發生規模6.1有感地震，不但民宅圍牆倒塌、岩灣技能訓練所的圍牆也崩落；台東體中的天花板砸落、水管爆料如瀑布。納骨塔朝安堂則有9個骨灰甕掉落破碎，緊急通知家屬處理。地震當下，有人廁所上到一半，褲子來不及穿好就奪門而出；還有學生正在教室交換禮物，邊尖叫邊衝出去。

溫馨的平安夜，學生們正開心交換禮物，沒想到禮物才拆到一半，突然劇烈天搖地動，20多名學生驚聲尖叫。

飲料店內，飲料桶整個掉落到走道，飲料灑滿地面，液體流得到處都是，一片狼藉。桌面物品也掉落，店員嚇得第一時間衝出店外。

廁所上到一半，被大地震快嚇死，男子褲子都還來不及穿好，先逃命要緊。

[[台東卑南鄉初鹿村村長陳梁誌]]
“921之後有搖晃很嚴重，但是也沒有像這次這麼嚴重。人坐在外面的話都嚇到，真的搖晃很大力。”

市區一處農田旁的水泥磚牆，也在地震中應聲倒塌。監視器畫面拍下，長約50公尺的圍牆，左右劇烈搖晃後，整排倒下，農民慶幸稻子已經收割完了，沒有造成農損。

岩灣技能訓練所外牆也崩落，而這裡就是"台東監獄"，不少網友擔心，犯人會不會逃跑，獄方回應，人員全數平安，沒有任何收容人逃獄、受傷。

畫面轉到台東體育中學，天花板整片直接墜落，牆壁也破裂，水管也不斷漏水，整個校園像是被炸過一樣，滿目瘡痍，所幸沒有人受傷

[[台東體中秘書林德泉]]
“第一個時間先疏散學生，在宿舍的外面等候，那宿舍舍監這邊，地震過後再做清查的部分，那如果就近的學生們，可以聯繫家長把他帶回家裡面。”

地震當下，朝安堂納骨塔也遭殃，五樓共有9個骨灰甕掉落破碎，地面滿是散落的骨灰粉。不過，還好都是個體掉落，骨灰沒有混在一起。

突如其來的大地震，讓平安夜變得不平靜，幸好沒有傳出更嚴重災情。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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The Taiwan Visitors Association marked its 69th anniversary with a grand annual meeting, inviting speakers from ForwardKeys and the Tourism Research Division at the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. For the first time, the association also introduced two scholarships aimed at nurturing the next generation of tourism talent. FTV reporter Stephany Yang has the details!

For the first time, the Taiwan Visitors Association introduced two competitions and offered scholarships. The tourism research category received a total of 42 papers, contributed by 57 students from 28 universities and colleges. The short film competition attracted 222 entries from 101 high schools and universities. The Taiwan Visitors Association chairwoman, Chien Yu-yen, presented the awards to the students at the meeting.

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This year’s first place went to three graduate students from National Tsing Hua University. They proposed strategies to address the off-season tourism challenges in Matsu. The second prize was awarded to a team of students from four universities and five departments, who designed a game app for Taiwan’s pilgrimage routes.

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Chien Yu-yen
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We invited Olivier from ForwardKeys, who flew in from Spain. ForwardKeys holds extensive global travel data and trends. Both speakers emphasized that Taiwan is emerging as a key target in Asia based on search and digital data. Yet, hesitation remains at the final step of booking. These experts offered solutions to bridge that gap.

The Taiwan Visitors Association hopes to continue to collaborate with industry, government, and academia to deepen international exchange and talent development.

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Escaped ostrich stalls traffic in Hualien’s Yuli

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An ostrich runs wildly down the road, tailed closely by two cars.

Kao Chin-lung
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Despite the risk that the ostrich would harm them, the group eventually managed to catch it. They notified its owner to come pick it up as soon as possible.

Mr. Huang
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It went missing at 9:30. It was caught just around 10.

The ostrich snuck out from its home around 9 and then ran over 1km to this metal factory. Halfway through his work, the boss suddenly noticed an ostrich outside. He did a double take, thinking he must be imagining it, but it was very real.

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After investigating the owner’s responsibilities, our precinct issued a citation under Article 84 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act and transferred the case to the county government’s animal and plant protection authority to settle.

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One of the centerpiece works is Gustav Klimt’s "After the Rain." This Taipei exhibition marks the first occasion that original pieces from the Belvedere’s collection are being displayed in Taiwan.

Besides After the Rain, the exhibition also features a room with an immersive multimedia installation. This interactive presentation highlights Klimt’s artistic journey, showcasing a selection of his works while illustrating his creative process. Visitors can step into a vivid, multisensory environment that brings Klimt’s techniques and inspirations to life, offering deeper insight into how his masterpieces were conceived and produced.

Lin Juei-tang
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We think this is a very rare opportunity to show this work, and we want to introduce all aspects of his art so besides displaying his "After the Rain," we also designed a multi-media experience so that the audience can enjoy and understand the process of Klimt’s creation and how he created art.

Other notable works include pieces by Johann Knapp, one of Austria’s most renowned flower painters at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Over his career, Knapp produced thousands of watercolor studies of plants. On display here is his celebrated work "Homage to Jacquin."

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This is a work that substantially embodies the relationship between art and science at that time. In the early 18th century, you can see that the development of flower painting in Vienna is closely related to the nobility’s interest in developing biology and scientific exploration, so in this work, we see that actually, Jacquin is a biologist working in Vienna. In this work, we see that the artist Johann Knapp includes lots of flowers, mushrooms, and even exotic animals.

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ITRI has chosen Shalun Green Energy Technology Demonstration Site in Tainan for the conference on R&D alliance in Southern Taiwan. Supported by the National Science and Technology Council, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Education, ITRI is kick-starting this program that aims to bring universities closer to the research institute.

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Her work may be full of challenges, but Yaya faces them all with a brave smile. Her determination and strength have shown that women can do this job just as well as men.

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