Seismic Reinforcement Begins for Hualien Earthquake-Damaged 'Shanhai Guan' Building; Completion Estimated in 2 Years
Seismic reinforcement work officially started today for the Shanhai Guan Building in Hualien, which was declared unsafe after the April 3 earthquake. The project, costing NT$140 million, aims to bring 118 displaced households back home within two years.
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- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 14:36
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 15:01 (25 min after Published)
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Hualien County - The Shanhai Guan Building in Ji'an Township, Hualien, which was labeled a 'Red Label' unsafe structure following the 0403 earthquake, officially commenced seismic reinforcement work today. The project is expected to take two years. The building, a 16-story complex with two blocks, has been vacant since the quake damaged its structure, displacing all 118 households.
Following resident consensus and professional planning, a groundbreaking ceremony was held today. Li Guo-long, vice chairman of the building's management committee, urged the government to expedite the approval of exterior renovation plans so both reinforcement and aesthetic repairs can proceed simultaneously to shorten the overall timeline. Li noted that while it took only three months for residents to agree on reinforcement over demolition, the project faced three failed bids before being successfully awarded. The total budget is approximately NT$140 million: NT$75 million for seismic reinforcement and NT$72 million for general maintenance. After central subsidies, each household will bear an average cost of NT$800,000. Li admitted that at least 10 households face significant financial difficulties and hopes for further assistance.
Deng Zi-yu, director of Hualien's Construction Department, stated that several large complexes, including the Wall Street, Lotus, and Hesheng Jiangshan buildings, have also opted for reinforcement. For Shanhai Guan, the county government successfully advocated to increase the subsidy cap from NT$15 million to NT$22.5 million per block. Meanwhile, the 'Fuyi Jinghua' building, which was ordered for demolition, is scheduled for teardown in mid-May.
Following resident consensus and professional planning, a groundbreaking ceremony was held today. Li Guo-long, vice chairman of the building's management committee, urged the government to expedite the approval of exterior renovation plans so both reinforcement and aesthetic repairs can proceed simultaneously to shorten the overall timeline. Li noted that while it took only three months for residents to agree on reinforcement over demolition, the project faced three failed bids before being successfully awarded. The total budget is approximately NT$140 million: NT$75 million for seismic reinforcement and NT$72 million for general maintenance. After central subsidies, each household will bear an average cost of NT$800,000. Li admitted that at least 10 households face significant financial difficulties and hopes for further assistance.
Deng Zi-yu, director of Hualien's Construction Department, stated that several large complexes, including the Wall Street, Lotus, and Hesheng Jiangshan buildings, have also opted for reinforcement. For Shanhai Guan, the county government successfully advocated to increase the subsidy cap from NT$15 million to NT$22.5 million per block. Meanwhile, the 'Fuyi Jinghua' building, which was ordered for demolition, is scheduled for teardown in mid-May.