A 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook Taiwan on Wednesday, the most powerful tremor to hit the island in at least 25 years, resulting in the death of four individuals, injuring dozens, and triggering a tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines which was later lifted.
The government of Taiwan reported four fatalities in the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien, where the epicenter was located, with over 50 individuals sustaining injuries.
More than 26 buildings have collapsed, with over half of them in Hualien, leaving around 20 people trapped as rescue operations continue, as per the government’s statement.
Television broadcasts in Taiwan showed buildings tilting precariously in Hualien, where the earthquake struck just offshore around 8 am (0000GMT) while people were commuting to work and school.
The quake had a depth of 15.5km (9.6 miles), as reported by Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration.
“It was very intense. It felt like the house was on the verge of collapsing,” mentioned 60-year-old Taipei hospital worker Chang Yu-Lin.
Japan’s weather agency informed that several small tsunami waves reached parts of the southern prefecture of Okinawa and later revised the earlier tsunami warning to an advisory. The earthquake was measured at a magnitude of 7.7.
The Philippines Seismology Agency also issued a warning for residents in coastal areas of various provinces, urging them to relocate to higher ground.
Taiwan also issued a tsunami warning, but no damage was reported, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii later declared that the risk of damaging tsunami waves had passed.
Aftershocks were still felt in Taipei, with more than 25 aftershocks recorded by Taiwan’s central weather administration, according to a Reuters witness.
Chinese state media noted that the quake was felt in China’s Fujian province, and a witness told Reuters that it was also felt in Shanghai.
The Taipei city government stated that no significant damage had been reported and the city’s MRT resumed operations shortly after the tremor.
Electricity provider Taipower disclosed that over 87,000 households in Taiwan were still without power, clarifying that the country’s two nuclear power stations were not impacted by the earthquake.
The high-speed rail operator in Taiwan stated that no damage or injuries were reported on its trains, but there would be delays as inspections were carried out.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, a semiconductor giant, mentioned that some fabrication plants were evacuated and their safety systems were functioning normally.
“To ensure the safety of personnel, some fabs were evacuated as per company protocol. We are currently verifying the details of the impact,” the company stated. It later added that evacuated employees were starting to return to work.
Shares of TSMC dropped by 1.4% in early trading, while Apple supplier Foxconn’s stock fell by over 2% and shares of flat panel maker Au Optronics declined by 1.7%.
Taiwan’s official central news agency reported that this earthquake was the most severe to hit the island since 1999, when a 7.6 magnitude quake resulted in approximately 2,400 casualties and destroyed or damaged 50,000 structures in one of Taiwan’s most devastating tremors.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration stated that the earthquake in Hualien county registered the second-highest intensity of an “Upper 6” on the 1-7 intensity scale.
In an Upper 6 earthquake, most unreinforced concrete-block walls collapse, and individuals find it difficult to remain upright or move without crawling, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
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