“It was like the story of Noah’s ark – the end of the world…”
By Jiang Hui-Zhen, World Vision staff and Typhoon Morakot survivor

Ms. Jiang Hui-Zhen is a social worker for World Vision Taiwan. She lives with her family of more than ten in Minzu Village, Namasia Township, Kaohsiung County. She was stranded in the village that was buried by landslides for three days before she was rescued and brought to a shelter on August 11.

We heard about the typhoon alert on Thursday night, but we did not pay much attention. It had been the day before Father’s Day and all my sisters have returned to the village. We bought a lot of food to prepare a feast for our father and to also ensure that food would be available through the typhoon days.

It started with a light rain on Friday, but turned into a torrential downpour by Sunday evening. I heard a growling sound from the mountain and suddenly, mudslides rushed into the village and even into my house!

We rushed to a higher floor of our house, but my husband thought it would be dangerous to stay in the house. My whole family of more than ten people, including children and the elderly, started to run out of the house in a bid to save ourselves.

Many other villagers, like us, were running toward the highest ground in the village. Men began to give directions, and we supported each other through our escape.

Throughout the entire period, I was anxious and worried. As a mother of three, my only thought was to get my children to safety.  I held one’s hand and carried two – one on my back and the other in my arms. I kept running and running, telling myself I must keep my children alive.

They cried throughout the way. My oldest child who was six was pleading with me as she walked beside me, “Mom, please hold me. I’m exhausted!”

Yet, there was nothing I could do except to tell her repeatedly, “We’re almost there.” I continued to climb and climb, or my children would die.

It was a trail of 200 metres, but felt like two kilometres to me, having to run and climb up the hill with my three young children. The path was rocky, and we had to help one another and to push forward step by step. It must have been our collective will to live that helped me to make it to the top.  

I initially thought the entire village had managed to escape in time, but when we reached higher ground, we realised there were people missing, and in the days that followed, they never caught up and we never saw them again.

In order to take cover from the rain, some of us stayed in the makeshift huts for farmers, and the others used tarps to build tents.

Because of the downpour, it was very cold at night. We gave the children as many clothing as we could to keep them warm, and used black, big garbage bags to keep ourselves warm.

To cook, we would cut off bamboo shoots to make a fire. Those whose houses were not completely buried took the risk to return to their homes and dug out some food. Whatever we had, we shared. We wanted everyone to live. With so little food to share among so many, we gave most of it to children and elderly.

One time, my child asked, “Mommy, you ate so little. Aren’t you hungry?” I thought to myself then, “I only hope you can live.”

We were isolated on the top of a mountain for three days. I was so afraid we would all die there. It was just like the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark – the end of the world!

The children were unable to sleep well. One night when I heard a 10-month-old baby crying breathlessly with his mother helplessly looking on, I asked God, “Are we all going to die here, including this young baby?”

When we saw the first helicopter three days later, we waved our clothes frantically because it was our only hope, our only way out.  

I was among the first to be rescued because we were a family with many young children. Each round, they could only pick up eight persons, and the weather conditions were very bad. When it turned dark or rained too heavily, the rescue operation had to halt.

When I finally reached the shelter in Neimen Township, I saw a news report on television and discovered that my mother and stepfather, who were living in Liouguei Township, were on the list of missing people. I completely broke down.

I am so worried and fearful for our future. Now my house, my children’s school, my office, and all the wonderful memories of my life, are gone. What are we going to do?

Individuals who wish to give toward the Typhoon Morakot relief effort can make contributions to the Typhoon Morakot Relief Fund. For Corporations and Organisations, please contact Ms Mindy Chee, External Relations Manager at (65) 6511-7145 or mindy@worldvision.org.sg.