NHK News 20th Anniversary of Taiwan Earthquake Fire from Kobe's "Light of Hope"

Memorial ceremony in 20 years of the Taiwan earthquake Delivering fire from Kobe's "light of hope" September 22 6:44

It has been 20 years since the great earthquake that killed more than 2,400 people in Taiwan, a memorial ceremony was held on the night of the 21st in the town that was the epicenter, and Japanese volunteers who helped rebuild the affected areas were also in Kobe City Delivered fire split from the "light of hope".

In Taiwan, 20 years ago on September 21st, a major earthquake occurred in central Nantou County and more than 2,400 people were killed.

On the 21st, 20 years after the earthquake, a memorial ceremony was held in Nantou Prefecture. About 500 people including locals attended, and about 30 volunteers from Japan who helped rebuild the affected areas attended. .

At the ceremony, the father of the church in Kobe, Hiroshi Kanda said, “It has been a connection between people that has strengthened the people of Taiwan who were affected by the disaster. .

After that, a fire split from the “light of hope” in the Kobe area, a disaster area of ​​the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, was handed over to a Taiwanese organization, and the attendees put the fired candle in the pond. I floated and swallowed the victim.

“The Light of Hope”, the chairman of the exhibition, says, “There is a sense of trust that has been cultivated in close cooperation between Japan and Taiwan. I want to cultivate close friendship through further exchanges.” It was.

President Hidefumi Tsuji Message of thanks for Japan's support

On September 21, 1999, when the earthquake occurred in Taiwan, September 21, 1999, President Hidefumi Sung posted a message of appreciation for support from Japan on Twitter.

At that time, with Japanese emergency rescue teams quickly entering the disaster-stricken area, in Japanese, “The support we received from Japan is still deeply embedded in our hearts. The Taiwanese people supported the disaster area because they were encouraged by Japan's support 20 years ago, and today I would like to express my sincere gratitude.