TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – National Dong Hwa University and other schools damaged by the 7.2 earthquake will switch to remote learning for the next few weeks, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said Sunday (April 7).

Minutes after the quake on Wednesday (April 3), a fire erupted at the university based in Shoufeng Township, Hualien County. Lab materials damaged by the tremors were believed to have caused the blaze on the fourth floor of the physics and engineering building.

The cost of the damage to classrooms, labs, and student dormitories was estimated at NT$500 million (US$15.55 million), per CNA. Classes will resume Wednesday (April 10) but stay online for two weeks for all of the university.

Another college in Hualien County, Tzu Chi University, will use distance learning for only some departments beginning Tuesday (April 9).

Teachers and pupils at Sipaw Elementary School managed to leave their school buildings in the mountainous area of Tianxiang on Sunday for an expected 10-hour journey via Nantou, Tainan, and Taitung to be reunited with their families on the other side of roads blocked by rockslides. They will resume classes at the Fushi Elementary School in Xiulin Township, the MOE said.

Earthquake damage was not limited to Hualien County, as Taipei Municipal Jingmei Girls High School also needed to prepare for online classes, at least for students in their third year. Buildings at Taipei Municipal Jingmei Elementary School, Shi-jian Elementary School, Ming Dao Elementary School, and the Nangang District's Chengde Elementary School had also sustained damage, making it necessary for some pupils to be moved to other locations, the Taipei City Government said.

The MOE said it had received reports of earthquake damage from 515 schools across the country, with the total cost estimated at NT$1 billion.