A powerful earthquake struck Taiwan early Wednesday, collapsing buildings, killing at least nine people, trapping dozens, and injuring nearly a thousand people, officials there said.
The 7.4-magnitude quake was the strongest to hit the island in 25 years, damaging buildings, causing landslides and knocking out power to thousands of people.
📍 When and where did the earthquake occur?
According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter of the quake was about 15 miles south of Hualien City, and occurred just before 8 a.m. local time. The quake triggered a tsunami warning, and was followed by at least 76 aftershocks in less than five hours, according to Taiwanese officials.
People have grown accustomed to regular earthquakes in Taiwan, which, according to the Associated Press, has some of the most advanced preparedness systems in the world. “Authorities said they expected a relatively mild earthquake and therefore did not send out alerts,” the Associated Press reported. “The earthquake was eventually strong enough to frighten even people accustomed to such shaking.”
🔎What was damaged?
Two buildings and a major highway in Hualien, a city on the east coast of Taiwan, suffered severe damage. A 10-storey residential and commercial building in Hualien, called the Uranus Building, partially collapsed. Many of its residents managed to escape, but others are feared missing.
A video widely circulated on social media showed the building leaning to one side, startling onlookers.
There has been a major earthquake in Taiwan and the scenes that emerged in its aftermath are absolutely horrific.
It's now 9am there.
Oh my God. pic.twitter.com/rIii6mDMMl
– Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) April 3, 2024
Other videos showed cars and buses swaying on a highway during the morning rush hour, and drivers stopped on a shuddering road.
Television footage showed people, including a young child, climbing through the windows of another partially collapsed building while rescue workers rushed to evacuate it.
↘ What is the official death toll?
According to the Taiwan Fire Department, the death toll from Wednesday's earthquake reached 9 people, while 70 people, all in Hualien County, are still trapped. Fire officials said at least 963 others were injured.
Among the dead were three hikers who were injured by falling rocks on a trail in Taroko National Park. The truck driver died in the same area when rocks from the rockslide caused by the quake hit the vehicle, the Associated Press reported.
The fire department said 64 people were trapped in one rock quarry and six in another.
Cover thumbnail: VCG via Getty Images.
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