A 7.4 magnitude earthquake, the strongest in 25 years, jolted Taiwan early on Wednesday claiming the lives of at least seven people and leaving several injured.
According to Taiwan’s central weather administration, more than 25 aftershocks were registered after the massive earthquake that hit at 07:58 am (local time) on Wednesday. The epicenter was situated about 18km (11 miles) south of Hualien.
“The earthquake is close to land and it’s shallow. It’s felt all over Taiwan and offshore islands… It’s the strongest in 25 years,” Wu Chien-fu, the director of Taipei’s Seismology Centre, said.
A tsunami warning was declared for nearby Japanese islands in the southern prefecture of Okinawa, but it has since been downgraded to a “tsunami advisory”.
The Philippines, which is also near Taiwan, had declared a tsunami alert for its northern coastline.
Chinese state media said the quake was felt in China’s Fujian province.
Video of Taiwan earthquake
Visuals from earthquake-struck Taiwan showed buildings collapsed and structures at precarious angles in the eastern county of Hualien where the epicenter was.
As per reports, people are trapped in four separate tunnels in Hualien.
Around 100 buildings damaged in Taiwan
According to the National Fire Agency (NFA), as many as 97 buildings across Taiwan were damaged following the powerful tremors that rocked the island on Wednesday morning.
About half of the damaged buildings are in Hualien, local officials said.
Four buildings in the county had partially collapsed, Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei said at a news conference.
More earthquakes to strike Taiwan
Authorities in Taiwan have not ruled out that “there will be earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.5 to 7 in three days which will be relatively close to the land,” Wu Chien-fu was quoted as saying by AFP.
Earthquake destructs Taiwan
Multiple aftershocks after the earthquake on Wednesday have triggered landslides in Hualien, the country’s largest county located on the island’s east coast.
Roads were blocked, trains were stopped as quakes and aftershocks caused many large rocks and boulders to come crashing down in Hualien, known for its mountainous terrain.
Taiwanese media outlet United Daily News (UDN) reported that all Taiwan Railway trains bound for Hualien have been suspended due to the landslides.
Suhua Highway, a major highway project in the island’s northeast – connecting Su’ao Township and Hualien – has also been affected with roads closed.
Earthquake leave Taiwan out of power
As per Taiwan’s Central Emergency Command Center, after the earthquake, more than 91,000 households were left without electricity.
Taiwan President’s message to people
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen urged residents to pay attention to updates from officials, and avoid taking lifts, given the series of aftershocks that the quake has set off.
In a post on Facebook, she also informed that the military will be deployed in rescue operations and has urged central agencies to maintain contact with local governments.
Japan extends help to Taiwan
Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida said his country stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to Taiwan after the massive earthquake.
In a post on X, Kishida said he was deeply saddened to hear about the earthquake and referred to Taiwan as Japan’s “neighbour across the sea”.