Taiwan cautions against visiting mountain areas following massive quake --- TAIWAN NEWS ---Matthew Strong

Scenic areas from Hualien to Penghu have been closed TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Holiday makers should stay away from mountainous areas and find information about which national parks and scenic areas had been closed down following a massive earthquake, the Tourism Administration said Wednesday (April 3). At least nine people died, more than 900 were injured, and dozens are still missing or prevented from going home due to roads made impassable by rockfalls and landslides. The magnitude 7.2 earthquake off the coast of Hualien County Wednesday morning was Taiwan’s largest quake in 25 years. The disaster occurred on the last working day before the April 4-7 Tomb Sweeping Holiday. Hualien County, traditionally one of Taiwan’s most popular travel destinations, is virtually cut off from the rest of the country, with a limited resumption of rail travel expected by Thursday (April 4) noon. The Tourism Administration said it had preventively closed six scenic areas in different parts of the country, Radio Taiwan International (RTI) reported. The list included the popular Taroko Gorge in Hualien County and Guishan Island in neighboring Yilan County, where whale-watching boat trips were also canceled. Hiking paths around Liyu Lake in Hualien County have also been closed, as falling rocks had been reported from several places in the area. Officials also shut off paths in the Tri-mountain Scenic Area in Central Taiwan, the Shihba Luohan Shan Forest Reserve in Kaohsiung City’s Maolin area, and the Whale Cave in Penghu County. The Tourism Administration advised travelers to stay away from mountainous areas in general. More than 170 aftershocks were registered during Wednesday, posing a high risk of further landslides and rockfalls. Several hotels in Hualien County closed their doors because of traffic problems or damage to buildings. Dozens of travelers were also still stuck in hotels or on roads, unable to continue their journey because of blocked roads.

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