Taiwan Broadcasters Keep Cool as Massive Earthquake Shakes Studio

Declan Gallagher
·2 min read

Live news broadcasts which occurred during Wednesday’s massive earthquake in Taiwan show two news anchors keeping their cool and carrying on as normal while the studio shakes and shudders around them.

The video shows an anchor for the country’s SET News calmly going about her newscast even as heavy production lights perilously swing above her. At one point, she braces herself on the green screen behind her while still expertly spouting her script.

In another segment, a different female anchor can be seen staying equally cool under pressure as even more violent trembling rocks the studio. Swaying back and forth and balancing herself as though on a surfboard, the anchor rattles through her segment even as pieces of the studio’s ceiling drop to the floor.

The news station was located in Taipei, the country’s capital. Wednesday’s 7.4-magnitude earthquake was the most powerful to hit Taiwan in nearly 25 years. It caused widespread damage to certain parts of country, leveling buildings and sending residents fleeing. So far, nine people have been confirmed dead and nearly 1,000 have been reported injured; both tallies are expected to rise before the day’s end.

Terrifying videos taken from around the country show the moment the earthquake hit. One video shows a freeway being rocked side to side by the vibrations.

Another shows residents looking on as a thick cloud of dust and smoke encroach upon them from the mountains.

In one astonishing clip, a man is seen being rocked back and forth in his swimming pool, which sits atop a skyscraper, and workers watch the building sway from below.

Taiwan has a history of deadly earthquakes, including one that occurred on September 21, 1999. It caused 2,400 deaths and injured about 100,000 others, in addition to devastating thousands of buildings.