In the aftermath of the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Hualien in eastern Taiwan in April, a Tokyo-based company is offering ground penetrating radar technology to assist the city in detecting sinkholes under roads during reconstruction. Geo Search Co. will survey 50 kilometers of road in Hualien over four days through Thursday and analyze the collected data for up to three weeks for subsurface anomalies that could develop into sinkholes or cause other disastrous collapses.
This service is being offered free of charge by Geo Search as a gesture of gratitude to Taiwan for providing assistance when Japan experiences earthquakes. Masatoshi Okamura, a senior official at Geo Search, stated that the company’s relationship with Taiwan is significant, likening it to that of a family. He emphasized the importance of helping each other in times of need, stating that “a friend in need is a friend indeed.”
The mayor of Hualien, Wei Chia-yen, expressed appreciation to Geo Search for offering their assistance for a second time. The partnership between Taiwan and Japan in times of crisis is highlighted by the cooperation between Geo Search Co. and the city of Hualien to ensure safety and stability during the reconstruction process.
Geo Search also volunteered to conduct similar surveys after a deadly magnitude 6.4 quake struck eastern Taiwan in February 2018. Okamura stated that this relationship is important because it shows that even in times of crisis, countries can come together to help one another and support each other through difficult times. The data collected will be provided to the authorities for reference as they repair roads and ensure that safety measures are put in place to prevent future disasters from occurring.
