In the wake of Taiwan's most powerful earthquake in a quarter-century, a magnitude 7.4 tremor that struck the east coast last Wednesday, rescue operations are escalating. Authorities have announced plans to deploy heavy machinery on Saturday in an urgent effort to recover two victims tragically entombed by boulders on the Shakadang Trail within Taroko National Park. The challenging terrain of the park, known for its steep gorges and scenic beauty, has complicated rescue efforts following the quake.

As the island reels from the aftermath, the death toll currently stands at 12, with ten individuals still unaccounted for. Among those missing are four hikers on the same perilous trail where the bodies were discovered, including members of a family of five, highlighting the personal tragedies unfolding within the broader disaster.

Rescue teams had to pause their search on Friday due to the risk posed by aftershocks, a stark reminder of the quake's lingering threat. Efforts are set to resume in full force, underscoring the urgency of the situation for those still missing.

The earthquake has also stranded over 600 people, including approximately 450 guests and staff at a hotel in the impacted Taroko park area. Isolated by rockslides and infrastructural damage, their stories of survival and rescue add poignant chapters to the quake's narrative. In Hualien City, near the quake's epicenter, the precarious dismantling of a dangerously tilting building serves as a visual testament to the quake's force.

Taiwan's commendably low casualty figure, in light of the earthquake's magnitude, is attributed to the island's rigorous building codes and public safety education, a response shaped by the memory of a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake in 1999 that claimed 2,400 lives.

As the community comes together to mourn, search, and rebuild, the focus remains on the missing and the monumental task of recovery in the days ahead. The resolve of rescue teams, faced with the daunting challenges of nature's might and the race against time, reflects the broader resilience of a nation all too familiar with the tremors of the earth.