In a now viral video of one of the impacts of the Taiwan earthquake, maternity nurses were seen swiftly securing newborn babies in their tiny cots as the hospital building swayed.
When Taiwan's eastern coast was shaken by an earthquake early Wednesday morning, a team of nurses at Ma Chérie Postpartum Care Center in Taipei sprang into action without hesitation.
Caught on video during the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck just before 8 a.m., the nurses rushed into a room to shield approximately twelve newborns in their care.
Rather than seeking refuge for themselves, these maternity nurses quickly repositioned all the incubators, relocating them to the center of the room away from potentially dangerous walls.
Their swift actions aimed to safeguard the infants as the room trembled violently from the seismic activity.
Maternity Nurses' Heroism
Video footage released on April 4 captured the tense moments at Ma Cherie Maternity Centre in Taipei, Taiwan.
The harrowing footage shows two nurses carefully holding tiny cots containing newborns during the tremors to ensure the safety of precious newborns.
A third nurse quickly joined in, helping to steady the beds and ensuring the safety of the infants. With swift thinking, one nurse managed to secure a cot's wheel, preventing any potential harm to the babies during the earthquake chaos.
With quick thinking and steady hands, they secured the cots and stabilized them amidst the shaking, showcasing their bravery and commitment to their young charges.
Chen Ting-Chin, the supervisor at Ma Cherie Maternity Centre, described the mix of fear and determination felt by the nursing staff.
Ting-Chin shared the natural fear experienced by the maternity staff during the earthquake. "Of course, we felt scared, very scared," she expressed, emphasizing the instinctual priority placed on the babies' safety above all else.
Reflecting on the intense moment, Aly, a nurse, stated that there was no time for fear when the earthquake struck. "Our immediate focus was ensuring the safety of the babies," she affirmed, highlighting the nurses' unwavering commitment to their young charges.
Head nurse Elaine recounted the adrenaline-fueled response of the nursing team, describing it as an instinctual drive to protect the newborns. "Those in the healthcare field can understand," she remarked, hopeful that their actions would inspire compassion and empathy in others.
Powerful Taiwan Earthquake
On Thursday, April 4, rescue teams mobilized to reach over 600 individuals in eastern Taiwan following the most powerful earthquake to hit the island in decades.
The number of injured surpassed 1,000 as aftershocks continued to jolt the region a day after the 7.4 magnitude quake struck near Hualien County, causing significant devastation including building collapses and landslides.
The discovery of the tenth victim's body at Little Zhuilu Trail in Hualien County on Thursday added to the grim toll of casualties.
Despite the scale of the earthquake, the reported death toll remains relatively low, with 10 fatalities, 1,067 injuries, and 42 individuals still unaccounted for.
Additionally, 663 people are stranded but maintain communication with rescue teams, according to Taiwan's National Fire Agency.
Although numerous rescues were conducted overnight, rescue operations primarily focused on freeing individuals trapped in a quarry in Hualien and reaching those isolated in nearby mountainous areas, known for their popularity among hikers and tourists.
By midday Thursday, all 64 individuals stranded at the Heping quarry had been successfully evacuated, as confirmed by the fire agency.
