MANILA, Philippines – The situation of more than 75,000 Filipinos based in Taiwan is being monitored, after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Kaohsiung County Thursday morning.
Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Resident Representative Antonio Basilio said his office is now coordinating with its offices throughout Taiwan to ensure that all Filipinos are safe and accounted for.
"Fortunately, Taiwan has heightened preparedness for natural disasters like this and its building codes to help ensure structural integrity against earthquakes are among the world's most stringent," said Basilio.
The quake occurred around 8 a.m. and its epicenter was located in Chia Hsien, Kaohsiung County, some 45 minutes car ride from Kaohsiung City where MECO maintains an office.
The Taiwan government reported that the quake was also felt in varying degrees of between 1.0 and 4.0 throughout the rest of Taiwan.
Although no major structural damage was reported, the Kaohsiung MRT and several train routes serving the Taiwan Eastern Coast remain suspended until further notice.
Textile factory fire
Meanwhile, MECO also reported that a fire hit a factory and its employees’ dormitory in Tainan on Thursday.
He said the 150 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) employed by the Everest Textile Factory are all safe.
"We are coordinating with their employer to ensure that they are all adequately taken care of," said Basilio.
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