In response to the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck the coast of Hualien County on Apr. 3, the Ministry of Culture (MOC) immediately initiated an inspection of cultural heritage sites across the country. As of Apr. 4, the data revealed that 59 sites were affected, comprising 13 national monuments, 17 city monuments, 27 historical buildings, 1 cultural landscape, and 1 settlement structure.
The MOC confirmed that 14 historic sites in Hualien County were affected, including the county monument Ji’an Qingxiu Temple (吉安慶修院) and the historical architecture within the Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park (formerly a wine factory). Additionally, in Taitung County, two historical buildings sustained damage, including the Wan’an Brick Kiln (萬安磚窯).
Furthermore, significant damage was also inflicted upon national monuments in New Taipei City, such as the Luzhou Lee Family Historic Estate (蘆洲李宅) and the Lin Family Mansion and Garden (林本源園邸).
The MOC’s Bureau of Cultural Heritage will promptly survey the sites and develop a restoration plan. In addition, the ministry will initiate funding projects to expedite the restoration process.