![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaTaiwan earthquake: How the island’s two-decade preparation saved itPublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, The impact of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake in TaiwanBy Rupert Wingfield-HayesBBC News, HualienWhen disasters happen, particularly when big earthquakes strike, the world’s media is drawn like flies to the most dramatic destruction. It is understandable. But it often portrays a distorted picture of what has happened.You can see it here in the city of Hualien. Camera teams are crowded around a 10-storey building leaning over at a terrifying angle. It all looks bizarre and scary. But that was only one of a handful of buildings which suffered structurally, in a city of tens of thousands.A hundred metres away beyond the police cordon, the streets of Hualien look entirely normal. Shops and cafés are open, traffic is flowing. Drive through the city and if you didn’t know a big quake had struck days ago, you wouldn’t guess it.The fact that this city has survived largely unscathed has sparked immediate discussion of how and why. Just over a year ago, we saw earthquakes of about the same magnitudes striking Turkey and Syria, causing the deaths of more than 50,000 people. These countries, of course, had far fewer resources. But when a much smaller 6.7 magnitude quake hit the city of Christchurch in New Zealand in 2011, almost the entire city centre was flattened.Taiwan is also often on the fault lines, but it has made significant progress in coping with shakes. Many say the wake-up call was Taiwan’s 1999 Chi Chi earthquake – the worst in its history. It caused the deaths of more than 2,400 people and destroyed tens of thousands of buildings.I witnessed the aftermath of that disaster. In the central county of Nantou many apartment buildings had been toppled. What was most striking was how many of them were brand new. I remember a huge 20-storey building that had snapped off at its foundations and was lying flat on its side – still almost completely intact.The catastrophic damage prompted a lot of anger and soul-searching about why so many brand new buildings had failed. Experts said their design was fundamentally flawed. The base pillars were not big enough, the amount of steel in them too small.Their findings won’t have been entirely a surprise: when I lived in Taipei in the 1990s, there were repeated construction scandals. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The loss of life in the 1999 earthquake triggered a public outcry and demands for stronger actionA building I lived in as a student was condemned after it was found to have been built with concrete made with sea sand. Sea sand is much cheaper than river sand, but has a much higher saline content. That corrodes the steel reinforcement bars, causing concrete cancer. We were told even a medium-level quake could have brought the building down. Another investigation by the Taipei city mayor found old oil cans had been placed inside the concrete pillars of a new building.The construction company was accused of using this trick to skimp on concrete and increase its profit.A lot has changed since then. Following the Chi Chi quake, building codes were changed. All new buildings are now required to meet a basic earthquake resistance level that means they can withstand a certain level of shaking without major structural failures.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, BBC Asia Correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports on the hundreds of landslides unleashed by the quakeThe government is also constantly revising the quake resistance levels required of buildings – identifying those that need upgrading. After 1999, they carried out a sweep of seismic retrofitting – that typically involved adding a framework of steel beams to a building’s exterior, or adding reinforcements like extra pillars. That applied to infrastructure like bridges too.Prof Yih-Min Wu at the National Taiwan University, who has worked in the country’s response and prevention departments for decades, says: “Taiwan is hit so frequently by dangerous earthquakes [that] most of the poor quality buildings are already gone.”And corrupt construction practices are prosecuted. Following the Tainan earthquake in the island’s south-west in 2016, when a 17-storey high-rise collapsed killing dozens, five people involved in the building’s construction were prosecuted and jailed.Of the 10 deaths reported so far this week, only one tragic loss of life occurred due to a collapse of a building – that 10-storey building in Hualien I mentioned earlier. The others were associated with landslides and rockfalls.And that points to another main reason for why Taiwan this time saw limited damage.Luck played a part. Wednesday’s quake began offshore before hitting south of the nearest major population centre, Hualien.Seismology maps show how the epicentre was 30km (18 miles) to the south of the city, so Hualien and its environs were spared the worst shaking.This instead happened in the mountains to the south, west and north, where it unleashed huge rock slides, damaging roads and bridges, and tragically, causing deaths.Wednesday’s event contrasts with Nantou in 1999, and Turkey and Syria last year, where earthquakes struck very close to densely populated areas.Still, the 7.4 earthquake was an incredibly powerful event, shaking not only the island but lands beyond that too.Fortunately for Taiwan, this time it was well-prepared.Other pillars of Taiwan’s earthquake response:Early warning system: Sensors placed all around the island are able to pick up the first vibrations of an earthquake and provide mobile and TV alerts to the public near an epicentre with 2-8 seconds lead time. But the system still suffers glitches – Taipei residents did not get some phone alerts.Public awareness: Taiwanese are used to quakes and know what to do, after school and workplace drills were mandated after 1999.Fast responders: The island’s disaster response team actively tracks social media and can tap into surveillance cameras to assess damage – triangulating which locations to send aid to.With additional reporting by Frances Mao in SingaporeRelated TopicsTaiwanEarthquakesTop StoriesIsrael urged to publish full report on aid team deathsPublished1 hour agoSix months on, how close is Israel to eliminating Hamas?Published2 hours agoWatch: Moment New York landmarks shaken by earthquake. VideoWatch: Moment New York landmarks shaken by earthquakePublished8 hours agoFeaturesStorm Kath ‘fury’ and stats staff ‘strike for WFH’Inside IDF’s detailed briefing on aid convoy attackWhere does Israel get its weapons?New Yorkers mostly unshaken by rare earthquakeTracking the world’s biggest iceberg as it drifts towards oblivionPrince Andrew’s infamous BBC interview… as dramatised by NetflixKacey Musgraves: ‘The tortured musician cliché is a farce’A tale of two earthquakes: How Taiwan learnt from past disasterWeekly quiz: Which of Marilyn’s belongings went under the hammer?Elsewhere on the BBCAmbition, money and deceptionThe scandalous true story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, starring Amanda SeyfriedAttributioniPlayerThe man who taught the world how to eatProfessor Tim Spector shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren LaverneAttributionSoundsAn ordinary couple caught in the centre of a mysteryDiscover the new dark, offbeat comedy drama now on BBC iPlayerAttributioniPlayerTime to learn and laughPaul Sinha improves your general knowledge with fascinating facts and hilarious storiesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher file for divorce2Driver gets 11 years for death of twerking couple3Storm Kath ‘fury’ and stats staff ‘strike for WFH’4Great-grandad, 111, is world’s oldest living man5Ibiza locals living in cars as party island sees rents soar6DJ Greg James apologises for glass eye comment7I reported explicit messages to police, says MP8Where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?9Six months on, how close is Israel to eliminating Hamas?10Murder inquiry after human torso found in woods](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/16895/production/_133090329_taiwan-index-afp.jpg)
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaTaiwan earthquake: How the island’s two-decade preparation saved itPublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, The impact of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake in TaiwanBy Rupert Wingfield-HayesBBC News, HualienWhen disasters happen, particularly when big earthquakes strike, the world’s media is drawn like flies to the most dramatic destruction. It is understandable. But it often portrays a distorted picture of what has happened.You can see it here in the city of Hualien. Camera teams are crowded around a 10-storey building leaning over at a terrifying angle. It all looks bizarre and scary. But that was only one of a handful of buildings which suffered structurally, in a city of tens of thousands.A hundred metres away beyond the police cordon, the streets of Hualien look entirely normal. Shops and cafés are open, traffic is flowing. Drive through the city and if you didn’t know a big quake had struck days ago, you wouldn’t guess it.The fact that this city has survived largely unscathed has sparked immediate discussion of how and why. Just over a year ago, we saw earthquakes of about the same magnitudes striking Turkey and Syria, causing the deaths of more than 50,000 people. These countries, of course, had far fewer resources. But when a much smaller 6.7 magnitude quake hit the city of Christchurch in New Zealand in 2011, almost the entire city centre was flattened.Taiwan is also often on the fault lines, but it has made significant progress in coping with shakes. Many say the wake-up call was Taiwan’s 1999 Chi Chi earthquake – the worst in its history. It caused the deaths of more than 2,400 people and destroyed tens of thousands of buildings.I witnessed the aftermath of that disaster. In the central county of Nantou many apartment buildings had been toppled. What was most striking was how many of them were brand new. I remember a huge 20-storey building that had snapped off at its foundations and was lying flat on its side – still almost completely intact.The catastrophic damage prompted a lot of anger and soul-searching about why so many brand new buildings had failed. Experts said their design was fundamentally flawed. The base pillars were not big enough, the amount of steel in them too small.Their findings won’t have been entirely a surprise: when I lived in Taipei in the 1990s, there were repeated construction scandals. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The loss of life in the 1999 earthquake triggered a public outcry and demands for stronger actionA building I lived in as a student was condemned after it was found to have been built with concrete made with sea sand. Sea sand is much cheaper than river sand, but has a much higher saline content. That corrodes the steel reinforcement bars, causing concrete cancer. We were told even a medium-level quake could have brought the building down. Another investigation by the Taipei city mayor found old oil cans had been placed inside the concrete pillars of a new building.The construction company was accused of using this trick to skimp on concrete and increase its profit.A lot has changed since then. Following the Chi Chi quake, building codes were changed. All new buildings are now required to meet a basic earthquake resistance level that means they can withstand a certain level of shaking without major structural failures.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, BBC Asia Correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports on the hundreds of landslides unleashed by the quakeThe government is also constantly revising the quake resistance levels required of buildings – identifying those that need upgrading. After 1999, they carried out a sweep of seismic retrofitting – that typically involved adding a framework of steel beams to a building’s exterior, or adding reinforcements like extra pillars. That applied to infrastructure like bridges too.Prof Yih-Min Wu at the National Taiwan University, who has worked in the country’s response and prevention departments for decades, says: “Taiwan is hit so frequently by dangerous earthquakes [that] most of the poor quality buildings are already gone.”And corrupt construction practices are prosecuted. Following the Tainan earthquake in the island’s south-west in 2016, when a 17-storey high-rise collapsed killing dozens, five people involved in the building’s construction were prosecuted and jailed.Of the 10 deaths reported so far this week, only one tragic loss of life occurred due to a collapse of a building – that 10-storey building in Hualien I mentioned earlier. The others were associated with landslides and rockfalls.And that points to another main reason for why Taiwan this time saw limited damage.Luck played a part. Wednesday’s quake began offshore before hitting south of the nearest major population centre, Hualien.Seismology maps show how the epicentre was 30km (18 miles) to the south of the city, so Hualien and its environs were spared the worst shaking.This instead happened in the mountains to the south, west and north, where it unleashed huge rock slides, damaging roads and bridges, and tragically, causing deaths.Wednesday’s event contrasts with Nantou in 1999, and Turkey and Syria last year, where earthquakes struck very close to densely populated areas.Still, the 7.4 earthquake was an incredibly powerful event, shaking not only the island but lands beyond that too.Fortunately for Taiwan, this time it was well-prepared.Other pillars of Taiwan’s earthquake response:Early warning system: Sensors placed all around the island are able to pick up the first vibrations of an earthquake and provide mobile and TV alerts to the public near an epicentre with 2-8 seconds lead time. But the system still suffers glitches – Taipei residents did not get some phone alerts.Public awareness: Taiwanese are used to quakes and know what to do, after school and workplace drills were mandated after 1999.Fast responders: The island’s disaster response team actively tracks social media and can tap into surveillance cameras to assess damage – triangulating which locations to send aid to.With additional reporting by Frances Mao in SingaporeRelated TopicsTaiwanEarthquakesTop StoriesIsrael urged to publish full report on aid team deathsPublished1 hour agoSix months on, how close is Israel to eliminating Hamas?Published2 hours agoWatch: Moment New York landmarks shaken by earthquake. VideoWatch: Moment New York landmarks shaken by earthquakePublished8 hours agoFeaturesStorm Kath ‘fury’ and stats staff ‘strike for WFH’Inside IDF’s detailed briefing on aid convoy attackWhere does Israel get its weapons?New Yorkers mostly unshaken by rare earthquakeTracking the world’s biggest iceberg as it drifts towards oblivionPrince Andrew’s infamous BBC interview… as dramatised by NetflixKacey Musgraves: ‘The tortured musician cliché is a farce’A tale of two earthquakes: How Taiwan learnt from past disasterWeekly quiz: Which of Marilyn’s belongings went under the hammer?Elsewhere on the BBCAmbition, money and deceptionThe scandalous true story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, starring Amanda SeyfriedAttributioniPlayerThe man who taught the world how to eatProfessor Tim Spector shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren LaverneAttributionSoundsAn ordinary couple caught in the centre of a mysteryDiscover the new dark, offbeat comedy drama now on BBC iPlayerAttributioniPlayerTime to learn and laughPaul Sinha improves your general knowledge with fascinating facts and hilarious storiesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher file for divorce2Driver gets 11 years for death of twerking couple3Storm Kath ‘fury’ and stats staff ‘strike for WFH’4Great-grandad, 111, is world’s oldest living man5Ibiza locals living in cars as party island sees rents soar6DJ Greg James apologises for glass eye comment7I reported explicit messages to police, says MP8Where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?9Six months on, how close is Israel to eliminating Hamas?10Murder inquiry after human torso found in woods
[ad_1] A quarter of a century ago, an earthquake killed 2,400. This week, barely a building fell down – why?
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaGaza: Israel urged to publish full report on aid worker deathsPublished23 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, ReutersImage caption, Seven aid workers were killed in three drone strikes on a convoy of vehiclesBy Sean SeddonBBC NewsAn aid organisation has called for an independent investigation into the killing of seven of its workers by Israeli drone strikes in Gaza.It comes after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said “grave mistakes” led to the fatal targeting of staff from charity World Central Kitchen (WCK).An Israeli military inquiry led to two senior officers being dismissed.However, the CEO of the aid group said the Israeli military “cannot credibly investigate its own failure in Gaza”.In a statement, Erin Gore continued: “[The IDF’s] apologies for the outrageous killing of our colleagues represent cold comfort. It’s cold comfort for the victims’ families and WCK’s global family.”He said Israel must take “concrete steps” to ensure the safety of aid workers operating on the ground in Gaza, where several organisations have suspended operations in light of the deaths.In the space of four minutes on 1 April, the seven aid workers were killed when three missiles destroyed their cars one by one as they engaged in humanitarian work.The charity’s team had been authorised by the Israeli military to help transfer aid supplies from the coast to a warehouse, but a series of mistakes and miscommunications on the part of the IDF resulted in them being mistaken for Hamas operatives and targeted.The IDF said a “number of armed gunmen” were in the vicinity of the convoy, but drone operators wrongly tracked cars carrying aid workers.The army apologised after admitting its soldiers did not follow protocols and were not given crucial information about the pre-approved aid mission.Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockImage caption, The IDF said information about the aid workers’ movements was not passed on to drone operatorsAs well as the dismissal of a colonel and a major, three IDF commanders have been formally reprimanded and the drone unit responsible has been suspended.Israel is under pressure from key Western partners to publish the full findings of its investigation, which have not been made public.UK Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said British officials were “carefully reviewing the initial findings” and called the dismissal of two officers a “first step”. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “These findings must be published in full and followed up with a wholly independent review to ensure utmost transparency and accountability.”US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had received the Israeli report and was “reviewing it very carefully”. He said the US will be “looking to see not just what steps are being taken, but the results that follow from them”.Additional material from the investigation – including video footage purporting to show a Hamas gunman on top of an aid lorry – was shown to journalists in a private briefing ahead of the IDF’s public apology, but only a summary of the findings has been made publicly available. The Israeli investigation was carried out via a pre-existing disciplinary procedure which deals with allegations of military misconduct, and was overseen by a reservist major general. IDF spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari described the report as being carried out by a “professional, independent body that is outside of the chain of command”.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Family of aid worker killed in Gaza: ‘He had a desire to serve others’On Friday, he told a press conference the findings would be made public in a “clear and transparent manner” after being presented in full to WCK and representatives of countries whose citizens were killed in the incident. He said IDF soldiers were “certain they were targeting Hamas” but described the strikes as a “tragedy” stemming from a “terrible chain of errors”.Also on Friday, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said 196 aid workers had died in Gaza since the conflict began, adding “we want to know why each of them was killed”. He told a press conference: “The Israeli government has acknowledged mistakes – but the essential problem is not who made the mistakes, it is the military strategy and procedures in place that allow for those mistakes to multiply time and time again.”Fixing those failures requires independent investigations and meaningful and measurable changes on the ground.”What we know about Israeli strike on aid convoyInside IDF’s detailed briefing on aid convoy attackWho were the seven aid workers killed in Gaza?The deaths have contributed to growing international pressure over how Israel is conducting the war, which has led to calls for countries to stop supplying Israel with weapons in recent days.On Thursday, US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington’s ongoing support was contingent on more aid being allowed into Gaza and additional measures being introduced to protect aid workers.Israel later said it had approved the opening of two routes into Gaza for humanitarian deliveries. It is not clear when these would be opened or under what conditions.The Erez Gate in northern Gaza will be reopened for the first time since the start of the war, and the Israeli container port of Ashdod – which is close to Gaza – will accept humanitarian supplies. More aid from Jordan will also be allowed to enter via the Kerem Shalom Crossing. Much of the Gaza Strip has been devastated during the Israeli military operations that began after Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages.More than 33,091 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the Hamas-run health ministry says.Related TopicsMiddle EastIsrael-Gaza warIsraelGazaHamasMore on this storyGaza charity worker’s death was a crime, say parentsPublished1 day agoIsraeli minister denies aid workers were targetedPublished1 day agoCharity boss says Israel targeted staff ‘car by car’Published2 days agoTop StoriesIsrael urged to publish full report on aid team deathsPublished23 minutes agoNew York and beyond rattled by East Coast quakePublished1 hour agoWatch: Moment New York landmarks shaken by earthquake. VideoWatch: Moment New York landmarks shaken by earthquakePublished5 hours agoFeaturesInside IDF’s detailed briefing on aid convoy attackWhere does Israel get its weapons?Weekly quiz: Which of Marilyn’s belongings went under the hammer?Two brothers, one football club and a 40-year wait for a major trophyAttributionSportWhat we know about Israeli strike on aid convoyListen: Newscast – When will it stop raining? AudioListen: Newscast – When will it stop raining?AttributionSoundsDev Patel: I want to create own story, not be James BondTrain strikes: How will you be affected?Where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?Elsewhere on the BBCAmbition, money and deceptionThe scandalous true story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, starring Amanda SeyfriedAttributioniPlayerThe man who taught the world how to eatProfessor Tim Spector shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren LaverneAttributionSoundsAn ordinary couple caught in the centre of a mysteryDiscover the new dark, offbeat comedy drama now on BBC iPlayerAttributioniPlayerTime to learn and laughPaul Sinha improves your general knowledge with fascinating facts and hilarious storiesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher file for divorce2Driver gets 11 years for death of twerking couple3DJ Greg James apologises for glass eye comment4Great-grandad, 111, is world’s oldest living man5New York and beyond rattled by East Coast quake6French pupil dies after being beaten near school7Where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?8I reported explicit messages to police, says MP9Prince Andrew’s infamous BBC interview… as dramatised by Netflix10Murder inquiry after human torso found in woods](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/E022/production/_133087375_f95e1d1e2a0e4658d415d6ade8294733a713a75f0_0_5472_36481000x667.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaBiden vows to rebuild collapsed Baltimore bridge ‘rapidly’Published56 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: ‘I’m here to grieve with you’, Biden tells Baltimore residentsBy Bernd Debusmann JrBBC News, Baltimore US President Joe Biden vowed to “move heaven and earth” to help Baltimore recover from a deadly bridge collapse that blocked the city’s port. He added the government will “help you rebuild and maintain all the business and commerce that’s here now”.Along with killing six workers, the collapse trapped a massive ship in one of the busiest ports on the East Coast, used by companies such as Amazon. So far, $60m (£47.4m) has been earmarked for the clean-up effort. The final cost of clearing the waterway and rebuilding the bridge is likely to be far higher, with some lawmakers estimating it could rise to hundreds of millions of dollars. One, Maryland Democrat David Trone, told CBS, the BBC’s US partner, that he believes the cost could be as high as $1bn. What will happen to the 21 sailors stranded on the Dali? Lost power, mayday call and crash before Baltimore bridge collapse On Friday, Mr Biden re-iterated a previous commitment to help Baltimore fund the recovery process and rebuilding effort. “I fully intend…that the federal government [will] cover the cost of building this entire bridge. All of it,” he said, calling on Congress to authorize funding “as soon as possible”. During his visit, Mr Biden, who has family ties to the city, took an aerial tour of the collapsed area alongside Maryland Governor Wes Moore and other senior officials involved in the salvage effort, before meeting with emergency personnel. Speaking in the Baltimore suburb of Dundalk – with the cargo ship, the Dali, and the ruined bridge clearly visible – Mr Biden said the federal government will “move heaven and earth” to rebuild the bridge “as rapidly as humanly possible”. He added that the reconstruction effort will be done with “union labour and American steel.” The port is a vital economic hub that is linked to more than 15,000 jobs.”Folks, we all need to step up,” he added, “Amazon, Home Depot…and other companies all rely on this port, and they have committed to keep workers on payrolls.” In his remarks, Mr Biden also directed a message to the families of the “working, strong, selfless” men who died in the accident, with whom he was also scheduled to meet during his visit. All six were immigrants from Mexico and Central America. “Never forget the contributions these men made to this city,” he said. “We’re going to keep working hard to recover each of them.” In a 5 April letter to senior members of House and Senate committees focused on infrastructure, transportation, public works and the environment, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalonda Young wrote that the administration would pursue “all avenues to recover the costs of past, current and future work”. In the wake of the crash, the “unified command” responsible for the response opened two smaller temporary shipping channels in the area to allow limited maritime traffic to pass through.By the end of April, officials hope to open a limited access channel 280ft (80m) wide and 35ft (10m) deep to allow one-way traffic for barge containers and some other vessels that carry cars and equipment.The entire, permanent channel is expected to be clear and ready for use by the end of May, the unified command said in a statement earlier this week. That timeline, however, may change due to weather and unexpected complications with the salvage effort. “This is going to take time,” Mr Biden said. Related TopicsBaltimoreMarylandUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyNo contaminants in river near Baltimore bridgePublished1 day agoInterim cargo route to open near Baltimore bridgePublished3 days agoWhat will happen to the 21 sailors stranded on the Dali?Published4 days agoTop StoriesIDF officers sacked over fatal aid worker attackPublished3 hours agoNew York and beyond rattled by East Coast quakePublished1 hour agoWatch: Moment New York landmarks shaken by earthquake. VideoWatch: Moment New York landmarks shaken by earthquakePublished3 hours agoFeaturesInside IDF’s detailed briefing on aid convoy attackWhere does Israel get its weapons?Weekly quiz: Which of Marilyn’s belongings went under the hammer?Two brothers, one football club and a 40-year wait for a major trophyAttributionSportWhat we know about Israeli strike on aid convoyListen: Newscast – When will it stop raining? AudioListen: Newscast – When will it stop raining?AttributionSoundsDev Patel: I want to create own story, not be James BondTrain strikes: How will you be affected?Where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?Elsewhere on the BBCAmbition, money and deceptionThe scandalous true story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, starring Amanda SeyfriedAttributioniPlayerThe man who taught the world how to eatProfessor Tim Spector shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren LaverneAttributionSoundsAn ordinary couple caught in the centre of a mysteryDiscover the new dark, offbeat comedy drama now on BBC iPlayerAttributioniPlayerTime to learn and laughPaul Sinha improves your general knowledge with fascinating facts and hilarious storiesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher file for divorce2DJ Greg James apologises for glass eye comment3Great-grandad, 111, is world’s oldest living man4New York and beyond rattled by East Coast quake5French pupil dies after being beaten near school6Where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?7Murder inquiry after human torso found in woods8Prince Andrew’s infamous BBC interview… as dramatised by Netflix9IDF officers sacked over fatal aid worker attack10I reported explicit messages to police, says MP](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/D295/production/_133090935_5635746a54d83934308c1d9dc8a55af9e127072f.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaCapitol rioters’ families draw hope from Trump’s promise of pardonsPublished34 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS Capitol riotsBy Bernd Debusmann Jr & Mike WendlingBBC News in WashingtonEvery night since August 2022, a small crowd has gathered outside the Washington DC Central Jail, through frigid winter nights and under spring rain, to protest against the US justice system. The protesters outside the red-brick buildings of the facility pray, discuss the news, and broadcast telephone calls with prisoners inside the jail, where hundreds of accused or convicted rioters have been held in the three years since the 6 January 2021 storming of the Capitol. In recent months, as Donald Trump has gripped the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, the protesters have taken heart from the ex-president’s vocal public support for those who attacked Congress.At rallies, Mr Trump plays a version of the national anthem recorded by the J6 Prison Choir – an anonymous group of prisoners thought to include several violent offenders. On Wednesday, he posted a video of the song on his Truth Social account, describing them as “January 6th hostages” – a term he has increasingly used in reference to the rioters.On a recent chilly evening, Micki Witthoeft was one of a handful of protesters and live-streamers outside the jail. The mother of Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old military veteran who was shot and killed by law enforcement after breaching the Capitol building, Ms Witthoeft said she had received a call from Mr Trump just that day in which he promised to “do his best” for the prisoners should he return to office.”President Trump is a man of his word,” she said. “We don’t really think everybody on January 6 was innocent of all things, but we just want them to be adequately and accurately charged and sentenced.”Image caption, Protesters including Micki Witthoeft (left) outside the Washington DC Central JailWhen a mob of Mr Trump’s supporters breached the US Capitol to try to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, the images of police and security officers under attack and armed rioters surging into the centre of American democracy shocked the country.Around 140 police officers were assaulted, according to justice department figures. In total, more than 1,350 people have been arrested since then. Nearly 30 January 6 inmates are reported to be currently held in the DC jail, most of them charged with assaulting officers.As part of his re-election bid, Mr Trump has promised to pardon many of the January 6 rioters but has never detailed the specific criteria he might use.At times he has distinguished between non-violent rioters and those who “got out of control”, but his focus at campaign events largely centres on unsubstantiated claims that both he and they are victims of political persecution.While political strategists say the focus could hurt Mr Trump electorally – particularly among independent and moderate voters he must win over to defeat Joe Biden – they see the messaging as a bid to keep his loyal base of supporters motivated.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Rendition of Star-Spangled Banner performed by January 6 rioters plays at Trump rally.”They’ve been treated terribly and very unfairly,” Mr Trump said last month at a rally in Dayton, Ohio, going on to describe the prisoners as “unbelievable patriots”. In his own words: How Trump’s January 6th language evolved7 January 2021: “I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem… to those who broke the law, you will pay.” (Televised speech)July 2021: “There was such love at that rally… the crowd was unbelievable and I mentioned the word love, the love in the air, I’ve never seen anything like it.” (Fox News interview)January 2022: “If I run and if I win, we will treat those people from Jan 6 fairly… And if it requires pardons we will give them pardons.” (Texas rally)May 2023: “I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can’t say for every single one because a couple of them, probably, they got out of control… And it’ll be very early on.” (CNN town hall discussion)November 2023: “I call them the J6 hostages, not prisoners.” (Texas rally)12 March 2024: “My first acts as your next President will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned!” (Truth Social post)16 March 2024: “You see the spirit from the hostages, and that’s what they are, is hostages. They’ve been treated terribly and very unfairly.” (Ohio rally)3 April 2024: “January 6th hostages with President Donald J. Trump”, with a video featuring the J6 Prison Choir song (Truth Social post)Mr Trump’s attacks on the legal system for alleged political bias against the Capitol rioters echo his public outbursts about his own legal travails. He faces four criminal indictments, including one that accuses him of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. And embracing the 6 January defendants, observers say, bolsters his claim to supporters that the legal system is “rigged”.”The political prisoners narrative seems to be an effort to frame the Jan 6 attack as a lawful political protest,” said Barbara McQuade, a University of Michigan law professor and author of the book Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America. And Mr Trump’s base want to believe in him and his narrative about the legal system, she said, even though it’s “a con”.The day that still divides America, three years onWhat next for the far-right Proud Boys?Several Trump supporters told the BBC that they felt sentencing of the rioters was too harsh. Scott Nolan, a self-described conservative voter in Reston, Virginia, called Mr Trump’s statements “overblown, but not entirely incorrect”. He said he believed the president was right to say that Antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters had been treated differently.Polling, however, suggests the idea that the Capitol rioters are being treated unfairly is broadly rejected by most Americans.A Washington Post-University of Maryland survey in December 2023 found that nearly three-quarters of respondents believed punishments had either been “fair” or “not harsh enough”. And a recent survey by Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found two-thirds of Americans thought the riot was “very” or “extremely” violent. Both polls showed sharp differences between Republicans and Democrats.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Officer Harry Dunn is still traumatised by the attack on the CapitolGunner Ramer, political director of Republican Accountability, a political action committee opposed to Mr Trump, said the campaign rhetoric about January 6 “hostages” could be particularly damaging among voters that might ultimately determine the outcome of the election. “Trump talking about ‘political prisoners’ activates victimhood grievance politics and connects with Republican primary voters,” he said. “But when you’re talking about swing voters – those who supported Trump in 2016 but not in 2020 – they are absolutely repulsed by January 6.”Mr Trump has not been specific about why he believes the rioters were treated unfairly. Nor has he been specifically critical of conditions in the DC jail, which has long been the subject of complaints and lawsuits. Some of the people given the longest 6 January sentences, for felonies such as seditious conspiracy – plotting against the government – did not directly participate in vandalism or physical violence. Instead they were prosecuted for co-ordinating attempts to stop the vote and bringing dozens of their members to the Capitol that day. Mr Trump’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment, but a spokeswoman recently told the Washington Post: “President Trump will restore justice for all Americans who have been unfairly treated by Joe Biden’s two-tier system of justice.”Analysis by the Washington Post that compared sentences in Capitol riot cases to national sentencing guidelines suggests they received lighter punishments than those usually applied. In two-thirds of Capitol riot cases, judges handed out sentences below federal guidelines. Nationally they go below the guidelines in about half of all cases, the paper reported.The protesters outside the DC jail agreed that a blanket pardon for all of the rioters wasn’t necessarily warranted. But they hoped that most would be freed or have their criminal records expunged.”Our hope is that [Trump] wins and gets back in office,” said Tamara Jackson, a Texas woman whose husband Brian pleaded guilty in February to felony assault charges, and whose brother-in-law Andrew was recently sentenced to a year of weekends in jail. “Them [the detainees] coming home is obviously the goal.”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Trump supporters at the US Capitol during the 6 January riotMany of Mr Trump’s political allies have echoed his support for the jailed rioters. But there has been pushback from some leading Republicans that have broken publicly with their party’s nominee. Mike Pence, who served as Mr Trump’s vice-president, told CBS News last month that he thought it was “very unfortunate” that the former president had begun to use the term “hostages” to refer to Capitol rioters. Mr Pence oversaw proceedings in Congress to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 election win as crowds stormed the building. Some chanted “Hang Mike Pence” and he was rushed to safety as protesters broke windows before rampaging through the Senate.”It’s just unacceptable,” he said.Related TopicsUS Capitol riotsUS election 2024Donald TrumpUS politicsUnited StatesMore on this storyThe day that still divides America, three years onPublished5 JanuaryWhat next for the far-right Proud Boys?Published6 September 2023Panel to probe Trump’s actions during Capitol riotPublished21 July 2022Top StoriesLive. Israel military sacks senior officers after aid workers killed in GazaLive. 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![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaOleksandr Zinchenko: Arsenal footballer would fight in Ukraine if called upPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineBy Kirsty Wark & Hollie ColeBBC NewsnightArsenal footballer Oleksandr Zinchenko says he would leave the UK to fight in Ukraine if he was called up.The 27-year-old told BBC Newsnight he has donated about £1m to help people in his home country since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.He said Ukraine has become a “shield” for Europe and called for more support.On Wednesday, the country’s president signed into law a bill lowering the military mobilisation age from 27 to 25.This would allow the country to call up more people to replenish its reserves and comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky said in December that the country would need 500,000 more soldiers to be mobilised.BBC Newsnight asked the footballer whether he would answer a call-up to fight, if he saw more value in that than staying to play football in the Premier League. “I think it’s a clear answer. I would go [to fight]”, he said.He added that he had former school friends fighting on the frontline.”It’s tough to understand that just recently we’ve been in the same school, we were playing in the playground or on the football pitch, and now they have to defend our country,” he said.”And, honestly, [it’s] so hard to accept this, but it is what it is. We cannot give up.”Mr Zinchenko said the situation in the country is “super tough” but he and his family were “proud of our president”.”I know maybe some people might think that it’s much easier … for me being here [in London] rather than being there [in Ukraine]. I really hope that this war will end soon,” he said.’I will teach my kids what they’ve done’The Arsenal defender began his football career with Russian team Ufa in 2016, and said he no longer talks to his friends or former teammates that are in Russia.”Since the invasion really few [have] texted mebut I stopped any communication since February 2022. They sent me some messages and I can’t blame them because this is not their fault,” he said.”I cannot tell them, ‘Guys, do the protests outside and all these things’, because I know they can be [put] in prison.”But I have a question to the people of Russia – how do you live in the country where you don’t have a freedom of speech at all?”He said Russians used to call Ukrainians their “brothers” and “sisters”, but the invasion has shown “all of us Ukrainians that we can’t be friends with them any more”.”We will never forget what they have done to us, to our people,” he said. “And that’s what I will teach my kids as well. And my kids will teach their kids. This is not acceptable.”In February, President Zelensky said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed during Russia’s full-scale invasion and tens of thousands of civilians had died in areas of the country occupied by Russia.Image source, Getty ImagesIn the first few days of the invasion, Mr Zinchenko said he sent money to help refugees in Ukraine, and his donations have amounted to over £1m.He added that he knows of hundreds of children whose parents have died in the war.The Arsenal star said: “What is my duty now? How can I help as much as I can to my country, to my people, over there and all these things?”I can’t be more proud than I am right now to be Ukrainian.”I have a dream that this war will end very, very soon, and we can rebuild our Ukraine like we really want [to].”Additional reporting by Tetiana Kharchenko and Jasmin Dyer.Watch the full interview on BBC Newsnight on BBC2 at 22:30 GMT and on BBC iPlayer.Related TopicsWar in UkraineVolodymyr ZelenskyUkraineMore on this storyUkraine lowers combat call-up age to boost numbersPublished1 day agoRussia’s neighbours urge Nato allies to bring back military servicePublished1 day agoTop StoriesLive. 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