A Japanese company, Geo Search Co., has stepped in to aid the quake-hit city of Hualien in eastern Taiwan by providing ground penetrating radar technology at no cost. This technology will help in detecting sinkholes under roads as the city undergoes reconstruction after being struck by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale in April. With the assistance of Geo Search Co., 50 kilometers of road in Hualien will be surveyed over a span of four days, and the collected data will be analyzed for up to three weeks to identify any subsurface anomalies that could lead to sinkholes or other destructive collapses.

Geo Search Co. stated that the gathered data will be shared with authorities in Hualien to aid them in their road repair efforts. This act of generosity is not the first time the company has offered its services in Taiwan, as they also conducted similar surveys following a deadly magnitude 6.4 earthquake in eastern Taiwan back in February 2018. Masatoshi Okamura, a senior official from Geo Search, mentioned that the company is providing this service as a gesture of gratitude towards Taiwan for its assistance during earthquakes that have affected Japan. Okamura highlighted that Taiwan and Japan share a strong bond akin to that of a family, emphasizing the importance of the relationship between the two countries. The mayor of Hualien, Wei Chia-yen, expressed appreciation for Geo Search's repeated assistance, acknowledging the warmth and support provided by the company in helping to prevent potential road disasters in the city. The mayor further emphasized the value of true friendship by stating, "A friend in need is a friend indeed," signifying the solidarity between the two nations during times of crisis.