Shifting Properties
Workers in Hualien’s key capital poured concrete at the base of the glass-fronted Uranus building, which was so severely damaged that it now tilts at a 45-degree angle.
It has now become a symbol of the collapse but, for 59- year- ancient Chen Hsiu- hua, it was her apartment.
She claimed to be at the secondary school when the disaster struck and that she was sheltered there.
” If I had gone back before, I would have been inside”, the craftsman said.
She added that she was shocked to witness the food sellers on the streets shivering and the street shaking during the earthquake.
” My hands are still shaking, they still have n’t recovered. This was my first day going through this,” Chen said, adding that she was frightened to remove her belongings from the skewed building.
” I nevertheless have my things in it, such as a picture of my mommy”, she said.
More than a few people had chosen to leave for home by day, but many, particularly those with young children, stayed in the tents.
Hendri said he hoped the shelter’s final day would be on Thursday.
” I will go by it to take a look and speak to the employees there and see if it’s healthy to get home,” he said.
” Yesterday they said it was n’t safe”.