Powerful earthquake in Taiwan shakes Okinawa, Japan
Tsunami warnings forecasting waves up to 3 meters high were issued for Okinawa.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit Taiwan on the morning of April 3, leading to tsunami warnings in nearby areas, including Okinawa Prefecture’s main island, Miyako Island, and the Yaeyama Islands in Japan.
The warnings were lifted by noon. Residents of Yonaguni in Okinawa Prefecture, just 111 kilometers from Taiwan, felt prolonged horizontal shaking.
In response to the earthquake, tsunami warnings predicting waves up to 3 meters high were issued for Okinawa and its surroundings. A 30-centimeter tsunami was observed on Yonaguni Island at 9:18 a.m.
Staff at the Okinawa Prefectural Government Hall in Naha City were busy gathering information and coordinating evacuations while alarms sounded.
Shigenori Takenishi, the 61-year-old president of the Yonaguni Town Fishing Association, vividly described the shaking felt during the earthquake, lasting about 30 seconds to a minute.
Despite the intensity, no objects fell or overturned. Mr. Takenishi, his family, and around 40 to 50 others sought safety in elevated areas, closely monitoring their surroundings.
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Approximately 200 individuals, including children, students, residents, and tourists, evacuated safely to Taketomi Town Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School by 10 a.m. Ryuto Kawamitsu, the school’s vice principal, praised the calm response, attributing it to regular evacuation drills.
Residents and tourists near the quake sought shelter at the school, overwhelming the classrooms on the second floor. A female staff member remarked on the crowded conditions.
Japan’s Ministry of Defense deployed five aircraft for aerial reconnaissance missions starting at 9 a.m. to gather tsunami-related data. No damage was reported in Okinawa by 11:30 a.m., demonstrating the region’s preparedness and resilience in the face of natural disasters.
