On September 21, at the 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan, the Taichung City Government and the National Museum of Natural Science co-organized a special event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 921 Earthquake. The opening event, titled the “Rescue Appreciation Ceremony,” started at 9:21 a.m. with the CBS alarm, symbolizing a historical reflection. Organizations from Taiwan and abroad that contributed to rescue operations were invited, and Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen personally honored them with tokens of appreciation, thanking each hero. “Always remember 921!”
Mayor Lu recalled that 25 years ago, a devastating 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit Central Taiwan, resulting in the destruction of over 100,000 houses. In the Greater Taichung area, 1,267 lives were lost in a single night, and many more were injured, leaving the region in devastation. Governments at all levels and international rescue teams quickly responded with disaster relief, providing aid to victims and supporting reconstruction efforts. This humanitarian spirit and mutual assistance were truly appreciated.
Mayor Lu mentioned that at the time of the 921 Earthquake, she was a legislator and tirelessly traveled around for relief efforts, as Taichung was among the worst-hit areas. Over the past 25 years, the Taichung City Government has learned valuable lessons. While natural disasters cannot be stopped, the city government has established a more robust disaster response system and consistently promoted disaster prevention education and drills in schools for disaster preparedness. Today's 25th-anniversary event featured educational and interactive activities aiming to improve people's ability to protect themselves and others, thus reducing the impact of future disasters.
According to the Fire Bureau, this year's National Disaster Prevention Day marks the 25th anniversary, and the events were particularly engaging. The first event, the “Rescue Appreciation Ceremony,” led by Mayor Lu, took participants on a journey back to the scene of the earthquake 25 years ago. The event highlighted the growth of the Fire Bureau’s rescue capabilities over the years, while also incorporating digital technology and rescue dog training to display their refined earthquake rescue skills.
Mayor Lu extended heartfelt gratitude, on behalf of Taichung’s residents, to international organizations that played a role in the earthquake relief efforts back then, including the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Korean Mission in Taipei, Singapore Trade Office in Taipei, German Institute Taipei, International Search and Rescue (ISAR) Germany, Bundesverband Rettungshunde e.V. (BRH), as well as 25 domestic groups and individuals. A touching video was shown, capturing interviews and reflections from these groups, taking the audience back to those rescue days, which were deeply emotional and memorable. The video also set the stage for Taichung's future vision as a resilient city. Afterward, a live rescue simulation was performed by the rescue team in a collapsed classroom setting at the 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan, providing an immersive and adrenaline-pumping experience for attendees.
The Fire Bureau noted that the “Together on 921” event, hosted by President Lai Ching-te, featured the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the National Museum of Natural Science and Japan's Nojima Fault Preservation Museum. An art exhibition by Professor Shih Ping-hsi was also held at the 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan. The newly revamped Earthquake Experience Theater and the 921 Earthquake Revelation Exhibition grandly opened, inviting the public to explore. The event also presented the “Disaster Prevention Science Education Booth,” where visitors could join activities and collect points to exchange for small gifts. In the “Drop, Cover, and Hold” area, attendees could take commemorative photos amidst the flowers. The “German Rescue Team Rescue Diary” welcomed visitors with their pets, while the “Little Firefighter Experience” gave pre-registered children the chance to experience firefighting and self-rescue and try on firefighter equipment.
The Fire Bureau also shared details of the final event, “Overnight at the Fault Line,” which provided participants with an immersive shelter experience. Campers lay beneath the stars, listening to firefighters’ rescue stories from the 921 Earthquake. This first-of-its-kind fault-line camping event drew great interest, with only 30 families selected from almost 1,000 applicants, making them the lucky participants in this exclusive event. The city government hopes that this event raises awareness about disaster preparedness among the public and inspires collective efforts to ensure a safer environment for the next generation.
Today's event saw the attendance of Mayor Lu, along with Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Chiang Chi-chen, Fire Bureau Director Sun Fu-yu, Civil Affairs Bureau Director Wu Shih-wei, National Museum of Natural Science Director Chiao Chuan-chin, Wufeng District Supervisor Chang Ching-yung, and West District Supervisor Wang Jui-chia. Additionally, legislators He Hsin-chun and Yen Kuan-heng, Taichung City Council Deputy Speaker Yen Li-min, and council member Su Po-hsing sent representatives to join the event, which was lively and heartwarming.