How to Help People During an Earthquake in Taiwan

Quick answer: To help people during an earthquake in Taiwan, protect yourself first with Drop, Cover and Hold On (趴下、掩護、穩住). Do not run outdoors while strong shaking is occurring. After it stops, look for falling debris, damaged stairs, gas and electrical hazards before checking on others. Call 119 for ambulance, fire or rescue emergencies; use 110 for police. If mobile coverage is weak and 110 or 119 cannot be reached, Taiwan’s official guidance lists 112 as an emergency alternative. Keep untrained helpers away from collapsed buildings and help people follow the local government’s safe evacuation instructions.

Taiwan’s earthquake risk varies by place and exposure. A resident in Hualien or Taitung may face damaged roads and rockfalls; an apartment household in Taipei may need to avoid broken glass and damaged elevators; someone at the coast may need to consider tsunami danger after strong or prolonged shaking. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) Seismological Center publishes earthquake reports, while the National Fire Agency (NFA) explains the protective actions to take while shaking. This guide is for general assistance; it is not a real-time safety assessment or an earthquake prediction.

What matters most: the immediate priority is survival, not a dramatic rescue attempt. Once safe, use a short, factual report to connect injured or trapped people with emergency services, help neighbours access appropriate shelter and medication, and check on them again as aftershocks and service interruptions continue. A person who becomes trapped trying to dig through unstable concrete adds to the emergency; a person who shares the last confirmed location with 119 and keeps responders’ access clear can make a real difference.

First 12 actions to help someone during an earthquake

While shaking: Drop, Cover and Hold On; protect the head and neck, stay away from large windows and tall unstable furniture.
Do not sprint to an exit or elevator: rushing through falling objects, crowded stairs or moving ground can injure you and others.
After shaking: assess glass, loose masonry, damaged stairs, smoke, gas smells, water and fallen power lines before moving.
Call 119 for life-threatening injury, fire or entrapment: give a city or county, district, building, floor, landmark, people involved and immediate hazards.
Call 110 for urgent police matters: use 112 as a mobile emergency fallback where the government instructs if 110/119 cannot connect.
Do not enter a structurally damaged building: an aftershock can bring down weakened walls or ceilings.
Help people with the available safe route: use local government, building management or on-site emergency personnel instructions.
Check for medical and access needs: infants, older adults, disabled people and people using powered medical devices may require specific assistance.
Near a tsunami-prone coast: after strong or prolonged shaking, move inland or to designated higher ground as official guidance directs.
Avoid unstable roads and slopes: rockfalls, bridge damage, blocked tunnels and landslides may complicate travel.
Send short, verified family messages: include time and place; avoid public posts identifying injured children or vulnerable households.
Remain alert: aftershocks, utilities, transportation and access may change; obey official re-entry and shelter information.

Taiwan’s emergency contacts and official sources

119 — fire, ambulance and disaster rescue: the National Fire Agency’s principal emergency dispatch line for dangerous injuries, fires and urgent rescue.
110 — police: urgent police response and reporting, including accidents or threats associated with disasters.
112 — mobile fallback: Taiwan’s government advises this when an emergency mobile call to 110 or 119 cannot connect because coverage is weak; a mobile must have power and access to a network signal.
CWA Seismological Center: official earthquake report records showing origin time, magnitude, depth and location; these are not assurances of building safety.
NFA earthquake advice: official Drop, Cover and Hold On instruction.
Taiwan Government safety guide: official crisis response and emergency hotline list.
Local city/county disaster-management authorities: authorised shelters, evacuation routes, road closures and advice on damaged structures.

The government’s public emergency hotline page explains the distinction among 110, 119 and 112. When calling, speak slowly and provide the exact site—city/county, district or township, street or village, building name, floor, nearby landmark and the best callback number. Say what you know rather than guessing about missing people. For immediate danger, telephone dispatch; do not try to submit a long social-media report first.

The first minute: how Taiwan’s Drop, Cover and Hold On works

In a home or classroom

The National Fire Agency tells people to get low, cover their head and neck, and hold on beneath a sturdy table where possible. A table can move during shaking; holding its legs helps maintain protection. Keep clear of glass, shelves, lamps and unsecured cabinets. If the location under a table is not reachable without crossing falling objects, protect the head and neck where you are, move only if that position is unsafe, and follow appropriate site-specific instructions.

Taiwan’s CWA interactive earthquake precautions guide addresses different situations: living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, stations and public places. Its practical principle is that a person should not rush through shaking to reach a distant supposedly safer position. The reason is simple: falls, broken glass and moving furniture may harm the person before they reach it.

In bed, a bathroom or a busy public place

If in bed during violent shaking, protect the head and neck with a pillow and avoid jumping up in panic; if in a bathroom, getting low and protecting against falling mirrors or fixtures may be safer than rushing across slippery flooring. In crowded buildings, protect yourself first and follow trained staff after the shaking. Do not push other people towards exits or encourage a stampede onto a stairwell.

Outside, on a road or in the mountains

Outside, stay away from glass façades, signs, walls, wires and poles when possible. Drivers should stop safely and avoid stopping beneath bridges or unstable slopes; follow road authority directions before continuing. On mountain roads and trails, rockfalls and landslides can follow earthquakes. Do not approach the base of a new rockfall to look for someone without specialised responders.

After shaking: help people without entering unstable structures

Begin with a scene check. Look for a cracked column or wall, a sagging balcony, broken glass, gas odour, sparks, flooded electrical equipment or debris on stairs. Do not treat a building as safe because the main earthquake has ended. Aftershocks can arrive at any time and damage weakened sections. If there is a credible structural problem, help people stay clear and notify the appropriate authority.

A neighbour is hurt but reachable

If you can safely reach the person, speak calmly: “Can you hear me? Can you breathe normally? Are you hurt? Can you move?” Call 119 for unconsciousness, severe bleeding, serious breathing problems, suspected major trauma or entrapment. Follow dispatch advice. Give first aid within your training when the scene is safe. Do not move someone with a suspected neck or spinal injury solely for comfort; move only when immediate hazards and professional advice make it necessary.

A person may be trapped in a collapsed apartment

Do not pull concrete beams, exposed reinforcement or a heavily loaded door. A piece of debris may be holding up another; aftershocks can destabilise it. Pass the last-known location, floor, room, number of people, sounds heard and current hazards to 119. State whether someone actually responded or whether a phone simply went unanswered. Professional rescue depends on accurate information, safe access and suitable equipment.

A short, usable emergency report

“This is [street or village], [district], [city/county], near [landmark]. There was structural damage at [building]. Two people were last seen on the third floor at [time]. One person may have trouble walking. Dust and masonry are falling near the entrance. Our callback is [number].” This report is far more useful than “People are trapped in Taiwan.” If coordinates are available from a reliable device, provide them without inventing precision.

Magnitude and intensity: why the local reading matters

The same earthquake can produce different shaking intensities at different places. The earthquake’s magnitude describes the event itself; local intensity reflects the movement felt or measured at a location. CWA earthquake reports supply both information categories. A distant high-magnitude event may produce less shaking at a particular home than a smaller nearby shallow earthquake. Do not tell someone that a building must be safe from the event’s magnitude alone.

The CWA seismic activity records are published with local time, depth and geographic information. If you help translate or forward an earthquake message, preserve the issue time, location and distinction between magnitude and local intensity. A coloured map is not a structural clearance notice or a specific evacuation order.

Coastal tsunami risk: helping means moving away from the sea

Strong or prolonged earthquake shaking in a tsunami-exposed coastal area is an important natural warning. Taiwan’s official National Fire Agency and CWA safety material addresses coastal evacuation to higher ground after major events. Follow local tsunami evacuation signs, announcements and available routes. Do not go to the waterfront to observe whether the sea has withdrawn.

Tsunamis may involve several waves and powerful currents, and a first wave need not be the most dangerous. Staying near a river mouth or low bridge may be hazardous. Help somebody move along a marked route only if you can do so without doubling back into the risk area. Alert responders to people who could not leave, from a safe location. Do not promise a specific wave arrival time or encourage early return without an official all-clear.

Gas, electricity, water and falling debris

Suspected gas leak: do not light a flame or operate a switch in a gas-affected area; withdraw to safety and alert the fire service.
Exposed wires or damaged outlets: treat as energised and stay out of nearby water.
Broken water pipes: don’t assume tap water is safe where networks are damaged; check local utility and public-health notices.
Fallen glass, signs and masonry: wear suitable footwear when moving through permitted areas, but don’t approach a dangerous façade.
Damaged stairways: avoid using a lift after major shaking and follow the building’s verified safe exit plan.
Unstable mountain roads: don’t pass rockfall barriers or drive beneath cracked slopes.
Aftershocks: keep the exit area and gathering point clear of anything that could fall.

Help people with disabilities or medical needs respectfully

Wheelchair users and people who need help walking

Ask what support the person wants before touching a wheelchair, cane or other equipment. A damaged ramp or elevator can make a usual route impossible. Determine whether the designated exit remains usable and report the access problem early to emergency staff. Do not attempt an unsafe stair carry that could injure both people; request appropriately trained assistance where necessary.

Older adults living alone

Check by phone, message or from a safe common area where permissible. Ask about injuries, medication, glasses, food, a phone charger and whether a relative knows their status. A missed phone call is not proof of entrapment. If there is an immediate reason to fear danger, give 119 the last confirmed location and specific concern; do not force entry into a structurally unstable home.

Children and separated relatives

Help children remain with an identified caregiver or authorised school, shelter or police staff. Explain the next action simply rather than exposing them repeatedly to alarming footage. Avoid posting a child’s photograph, full name, health record or exact overnight location publicly. Use recognised family-reunification channels and obtain permission when sharing someone else’s status.

People dependent on regular medical treatment

Dialysis, oxygen, refrigerated medicines and other continuing treatment may be disrupted by power loss or damaged roads. Help the person contact qualified medical services and emergency coordinators; do not prescribe substitute medication or assume that a temporary shelter has specialist equipment. If an urgent clinical emergency occurs, call 119.

Travellers in Taiwan: short messages that prevent confusion

A visitor may not read a traditional Chinese warning or know the district name. Help translate the place, time, authority and protective action, without altering an alert or claiming a route has reopened. The simplest helpful message is: “Earthquake—protect your head and stay away from windows. After shaking, follow staff and local instructions. Call 119 for a medical or rescue emergency.”

The government’s Taiwan travel emergency reference also lists 0800 024 111 as the Information for Foreigners helpline, which may help with non-emergency questions. A helpline is not a substitute for 119 when a person is injured or trapped. Railway, metro, airport and hotel access must be confirmed with their operators, not a general earthquake report.

The next 72 hours: what people may need after reaching safety

First hours: confirm survival, injuries, last-known missing-person locations and emergency response information.
Day one: find safe water, medical care, hygiene, mobility equipment and an officially operating place to sleep.
Day two: reconnect family, obtain prescription refills, understand which transport and utility services are operating.
Day three: help with official damage reporting, school and workplace updates, shelter continuity and accessibility needs.
Following weeks: stay in touch; housing, loss of income, education and mental health needs may continue beyond the initial news.

An assembly point is not automatically an overnight shelter. A station can be closed for engineering inspection even if the seismic report says the shaking has stopped. Use the local authority and facility manager for current operating conditions. Do not send a family across a damaged bridge or into a building just because they need food. The right help removes an obstacle without creating another hazard.

Donating and volunteering without obstructing rescue teams

After major damage, roads and entrances may be reserved for rescue vehicles, engineers and emergency medical teams. Unrequested goods and informal rescue groups can obstruct that access. Ask recognised local government or humanitarian organisations for a needs list and an approved receiving point. Sometimes money through a verified organisation is more flexible than mixed boxes of clothing; confirm its stated purpose.

Volunteer roles can include trained first aid, suitable shelter support, private family check-ins, translations, authorised supply sorting and help with accessible communications. Structural search-and-rescue and major rubble movement require training and professional assessment. Never use a reflective vest, social-media post or affiliation claim to imply that you have authority to enter a collapsed site.

Five realistic situations and safer responses

1. An older neighbour calls from an apartment with a cracked stairwell

Ask about injuries and whether they have a safe alternative exit. Inform 119 if immediate danger or entrapment is suspected. Do not climb the damaged staircase to collect them. Give rescuers the apartment address, floor and access limitation.

2. A tourist sees that the trains stopped after shaking

Explain that a temporary railway stop may be a safety precaution. Check the operator’s official status and don’t promise a reopening time. Help find a safe waiting point and a way to contact accommodation.

3. A family member says the coast is quiet after a strong earthquake

Warn that quiet water does not prove absence of tsunami danger. Follow local signs and official tsunami information, and encourage prompt movement to designated higher ground where necessary. Do not return to the shore for bags.

4. A group wants to begin digging in a damaged building

Ask them to stay out, call 119 and tell rescuers the exact last-seen locations. Aftershocks, unstable debris and damaged utilities can kill untrained helpers and those trapped beneath the material.

5. A message predicts a second major earthquake at an exact hour

Do not circulate it as fact. Monitoring can detect earthquakes and provide short early warnings in some situations, but exact time-and-location predictions of future earthquakes are not reliable. Share official CWA and NFA protective information instead.

Frequently asked questions

What number should I call for earthquake rescue in Taiwan?

119 for fire, ambulance and urgent rescue. 110 for police. Taiwan’s government lists 112 as a mobile emergency fallback when 110/119 cannot connect because of coverage problems.

Should I run outside while an earthquake is shaking my apartment?

No. The Taiwan National Fire Agency prioritises Drop, Cover and Hold On, protecting the head and neck. Rushing through moving ground or towards unstable stairs can cause injury.

Does magnitude tell me whether a building is safe?

No. Local shaking intensity, construction, ground conditions and actual damage matter. Structural safety requires qualified assessment; a CWA magnitude report is not a building clearance.

Can I enter a cracked building to fetch prescription medicine?

Do not enter a potentially unstable building without authorised safety clearance. Tell emergency or healthcare staff about the urgent medication need and seek a safe continuity plan.

What if a coastal earthquake could trigger a tsunami?

After strong or prolonged shaking, follow tsunami evacuation instructions and move promptly inland or to designated higher ground. Stay away until the relevant authority gives an all-clear.

How can friends overseas assist?

Contact affected people privately, share verified CWA and local authority information, support a legitimate relief organisation and avoid forwarding identifying missing-person photographs or speculative earthquake predictions.

Explore more eduKateSG disaster-help guides: Flood assistance in Thailand · Wildfire assistance in Canada · Cyclone assistance in Mauritius. For a real emergency, always follow the official warning, emergency numbers and evacuation instructions for the country and locality involved.

Official Taiwanese sources and further eduKateSG reading

Reviewed 6 November 2026. This is evergreen earthquake assistance guidance for Taiwan, not a live incident report, exact earthquake prediction, shelter-opening confirmation or structural safety certificate. Follow the current CWA, National Fire Agency, local authority and emergency dispatcher directions.