The world of Tzu Chi May 2021 (Vol.134)

2021 • 05 36 pecial Feature scene and the city centre of Hualien, transporting both the injured and the deceased. The Taiwan Railways Administration also sent additional trains to help with the transportation due to the large number of casualties. Both injured and deceased passengers were delivered to Chongde and Xincheng Train Stations, the transfer points. From there, the injured were rushed to the hospital, while the deceased were examined by authorities before being transported to the Hualien Funeral Home for families to identify and claim. At about three in the afternoon, the rescue teamdeclared that therewere nomore survivors on the train, and that people still within the wreckage were deceased. Volunteer Fan Lei’s heart sank when he heard the announcement. He had been giving assistance to a couple on- site. That couple had fortunately been rescued, but their child was still stuck inside. They had insisted on waiting at the scene until their child was also rescued before they would leave. “I did not have the heart to dash their hope,” Fan said. “How could I tell them that all those still inside the train were dead?” The most difficult mission Most of the people who died in the accident had been killed on the spot. With so many lives gone so suddenly, how to comfort A Dharma Master from the Jing Si Abode and Tzu Chi volunteers comfort a bereaved family member at the Hualien Funeral Home.