A Taiwanese businessman in Nashville reflects on the devastation of his homeland.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Taiwan is still recovering debris after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake left behind devastating damage. The disaster has claimed more than a dozen lives, injured hundreds and left many more trapped.

Grace Tseng, who runs Mama Yang and Daughter with her mother, was devastated by the earthquake. “I have Chinese blood with Taiwanese culture. I was born and raised in Taiwan,” Tseng said.

The recent earthquake struck close to Tseng’s home and the county where her grandparents live. “I was very surprised because this happened to be the prefecture where my grandparents live,” Tseng said, expressing concern.

She was relieved to hear that her family and friends were safe. “Everything is fine except for the broken pipe,” Tseng said.

Tseng’s heart breaks for all those killed, injured, and missing in Taiwan waiting to be rescued. She said tremors occur frequently in Taiwan, but she added that the death toll is relatively low because the government has been preparing for many years.

“Since that earthquake 25 years ago, they had an action plan, so we had high hopes that they would know how to take care of the people there,” Tseng said. explained.

She knows it will take time to rebuild damaged homes and businesses. She encourages the community to keep the people of Taiwan in their thoughts and prayers.

“Please text or call your friends, family, or people you know who live in Taiwan to let them know that your family is okay and that they are very important. This will help them know that we are supported. , and we know you’re thinking of us, said Tseng.

Officials said most of the victims of the earthquake were outdoors and died from falling rocks or landslides. So far, only one person has died from the collapsed building.