Tainan reports slew of cultural site damage from quake

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tainan Cultural Affairs Bureau reported damage to a host of cultural sites following Monday morning’s magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck southwest Taiwan.

The bureau said in a press release that damage varied across historical buildings and cultural venues. Xuejia Ciji Temple had parts of its decorative ceramics fall off and roof tiles showed partial cracks.

Nankunshen Daitian Temple in Beimen District reported that its ceramic sculptures near the incense area fell. Huji Temple in Madou District also reported fallen decorative ceramics and a slight crack in one pillar.

The bureau said that areas along Tainan’s foothills, closer to the epicenter, experienced significant damage. Dongshan Niurouqi Police Station, built during the Japanese colonial era (1895-1945), had multiple cracks on its wooden walls that required further inspection.

At Lutauyang, the largest traditional Fujian-style settlement in Taiwan, tiles on the pavilion roof fell and cracks could be seen in the brickwork. With an area of ​​3.5 hectares, the site is nearly 200 years old.

The Tainan City Library Main Branch experienced a water outage due to broken pipes. Anping Fort and Wufei Temple also reported partial wall cracks.

The bureau said it will continue monitoring other affected heritage sites. It also plans to provide regular updates on restoration progress to keep the public informed.