A 7.4 magnitude quake strikes Taiwan, causing fatalities in Hualien and triggering tsunami alert in Japan. Rescue efforts underway. (Getty Images)
A devastating earthquake struck Taiwan early Wednesday morning, resulting in the loss of at least four lives and leaving dozens injured. The powerful 7.4 magnitude quake rocked the island just before 8 a.m. local time, causing significant damage in Taiwan's eastern city of Hualien and even triggering a small tsunami along the coast of Japan's Yonaguni island, as confirmed by officials.
The fatalities occurred primarily in Hualien, the epicenter of the earthquake, marking the most potent seismic event Taiwan has experienced in a quarter of a century, according to the country's fire department. Reports indicate that three of the deceased were victims of being crushed by rocks tumbling from the mountainside. Over 50 individuals sustained injuries, as reported by the fire department.
Local media captured the aftermath of the earthquake, depicting buildings in Hualien displaced from their foundations, while rescue efforts ensued to free approximately 20 individuals trapped in the rubble of at least 26 collapsed structures.
Social media platforms circulated shocking footage revealing skyscrapers leaning at precarious angles, enveloped in clouds of dust. Additionally, videos emerged showing commuters on the Taipei Metro struggling to maintain balance as the train swayed violently from side to side.
The earthquake disrupted daily life in Taiwan's capital city, Taipei, resulting in power outages and temporary suspension of train services across the country. However, within a short period following the quake, the situation seemed to normalize as people resumed their commutes and children returned to school.
Meanwhile, Japan issued evacuation advisories for coastal areas near Okinawa following the tsunami warning triggered by the earthquake. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) anticipated waves up to 9.8 feet high for Okinawa, prompting the deployment of Japan's Self-Defense Force to gather information on the tsunami's impact and prepare shelters for potential evacuees.
Despite a 1-foot wave reported on Yonaguni island approximately 15 minutes after the quake, the tsunami warning was later downgraded in Japan and completely lifted in the Philippines.
In the aftermath of the initial quake, Taiwan experienced several aftershocks, including one registering at 6.5 magnitude. Although initial concerns were raised about potential tsunamis affecting regions such as Alaska and the west coast of the United States, subsequent assessments by the US National Tsunami Warning Center and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center concluded that there was no imminent threat to those areas.
While Taiwan's earthquake monitoring agency cited the magnitude as 7.2, the US Geological Survey recorded it as 7.4, with the quake's depth measured at 21 miles below the surface. This event is believed to be the most significant earthquake in Taiwan since 1999, when a devastating 7.7 magnitude tremor wreaked havoc on the island, claiming thousands of lives. In 2019, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake near Hualien resulted in the loss of at least 17 lives and left over 300 individuals injured.
