Over 600 people still remain trapped in the Taroko Gorge National Park, with 13 others missing following Wednesday's 7.3-magnitude earthquake which jolted the sea area near Hualien County of China's Taiwan region, according to the latest data released at 14:00 on Friday.
They are mainly trapped in a hotel within the Taroko gorge park region, a primary school campus and in a nearby activity center.
Despite that the damaged roads leading to the areas have not been restored, the rescuers have confirmed that those who remain trapped are safe at present, and they have enough food and water for about four days.
A group of people rescued from the Silks Place Taroko hotel has arrived at the rescue center.
Earlier on Friday, two bodies were discovered in the tourist attraction's Shakadang Trail area, but their identities have yet to be confirmed.
The earthquake jolted the sea area near Hualien County at 7:58 on Wednesday.
According to the statistics from the Taiwan meteorological agency, there have been more than 500 aftershocks as of Friday. The sprinkle since Thursday night brought more difficulties and even temporary suspension to the search and rescue mission.
The devastating earthquake had killed at least 10 people and injured more than 1,000 others as of Thursday.
Over 600 people remain trapped, 13 missing in Taroko gorge park region following deadly earthquake in China's Taiwan
Mounting uncertainty over the U.S. tariff policies under President Donald Trump's administration is fueling distress among the farmers of Iowa state, a U.S. state long regarded as the "granary and breadbasket of America," and disrupting the agricultural sector, particularly its soybean industry.
Iowa's agricultural sector is heavily export-dependent, and the U.S. abuse of tariffs has left the state's farmers uncertain about how to plan for the future amid sudden changes in policy direction.
"It has been really difficult, especially with the stress on the market since the announcement of the tariffs. Any unsold soybeans that we have now will sell at a loss. It's what does the next three years look like in this very uncertain environment with different tariff ideas every day, every week. Like how do we plan as a business for that," said farmer Corey Goodhue.
The uncertainty has pushed some farmers to shift to alternative crops like corn, which currently faces fewer trade obstacles. But the switch comes at a cost. Prices for fuel, fertilizer, and other inputs have surged under the broader tariff regime.
Grant Kimberley, a large-scale farm operator and senior director of market development for the Iowa Soybean Association, said costs are rising across the board.
"We don't ever like to see food and agriculture used as a weapon in a trade disagreement because it doesn’t do either country any good," he said.
Data from agricultural equipment manufacturers showed the cost of machinery in the United States rose 18 percent year on year in spring 2025.
The ripple effects of falling farm income are already being felt in the wider community.
"So I think the tariffs have a trickle-down effect. As for the commodity, if the farmers don't make money, then no one else benefits. John Deere ( the world's leading tractor maker) lays off employees, and this situation just works its way through the community. So small businesses are really struggling with it," said Goodhue.
Policy analysts have warned that the longer-term economic damage could extend well beyond the farm belt.
"At this point of time, it has not yet begun to bite because people have already had inventories of these goods at the lower tariff rates. But soon, at some point of time, and it will be soon that the impact will be felt at grocery store counters. We will see areas where the U.S. was very competitive losing its competitiveness, and with other suppliers taking their position," said Sourabh Gupta, senior Asia-Pacific policy specialist at the Institute for China-America Studies.
US tariff policy turmoil threatens Iowa's farmers, disrupting exports
