Devastating 7.4 Earthquake in Taiwan Claims Four Lives, Causes Building Destruction
According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, it was the most powerful earthquake to hit the island in 25 years.
The death toll has risen to four from a powerful earthquake that struck Taiwan early on Wednesday, shaking the entire island nation, causing buildings to collapse in a southern city, and generating a small tsunami wave that caused no damage.
Taiwan’s National Fire Agency reported that all of the deaths occurred in Hualien County, near the epicenter on the island’s east coast. Additionally, 57 injuries were reported, mostly in the same region, with one casualty identified as a hiker.
It was followed by a 6.5-magnitude aftershock just 13 minutes later, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
The quake struck about 11 miles (18 kilometers) south-southwest of Hualien at a depth of approximately 21 miles (35 kilometers).
In Hualien, a five-story building sustained heavy damage, with its first floor collapsing and the rest of the structure leaning at a 45-degree angle.
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Meanwhile, in the capital city of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and some newer office complexes experienced structural damage.
Train services were suspended across the island, which is home to 23 million people, as were subway services in Taipei. However, life in the capital quickly returned to normal, with children attending school and the morning commute proceeding without major disruptions.
Tsunami Warnings Canceled
Tsunami warnings were issued by Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines after the earthquake hit the region. However, these warnings were later canceled.
Taiwan experienced a relatively small tsunami of around 1.5 feet (0.5 meters) in Chenggong, which is located 62 miles south of the earthquake’s epicenter.
Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported a tsunami wave of approximately 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) hitting the coast of Yonaguni Island about 15 minutes after the quake. A 1-foot wave was also observed at Okinawa Island, but no significant damage occurred.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned those in coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground following the earthquake but ultimately reported that “no significant sea level disturbances” were recorded, and the warning was later lifted.
Soon after the quake struck, Japan’s Self-Defense Force dispatched aircraft to assess the tsunami’s impact around the Okinawa region and prepare shelters for potential evacuees.
Despite the seismic activity, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated that there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii or the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. It later stated that any threat to the United States has “largely passed.”
The earthquake occurred as the result of reverse faulting near the boundary between the Eurasia and Philippine Sea plates, the USGS reported.
The earthquake is believed to be the most significant to hit Taiwan since a temblor in 1999 that caused extensive damage. Taiwan sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where the majority of the world’s earthquakes occur.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
