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Seven people have been confirmed dead and more than 700 are injured as a search and rescue operation continues after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan’s east coast.
The earthquake – the strongest in 25 years in Taiwan – set off tsunami warnings on the island and across neighbouring countries, seismology officials said.
More than 77 people remain trapped under the rubble after the quake caused widespread damage and power outages across the country.
The epicentre of the earthquake, which struck at 7.58am local time, was located about 18km south of Taiwan’s Hualien city, said the US Geological Survey. The USGS initially measured the earthquake at magnitude 7.4, though Taiwan’s own monitoring agency put it at 7.2.
Tremors set off at least nine landslides and debris collapsed hillsides onto Suhua Highway in Hualien, according to local media reports.
Train services were suspended across the island of 23 million people, as was the subway service in Taipei.
In Japan’s Okinawa, the first small tsunami waves have hit the coasts of Miyako and Yaeyama islands. That came not long after the meteorological agency warned there could be tsunami waves of up to three metres.
Where was the epicentre of the earthquake?
The epicentre of the shallow earthquake measuring 7.2 magnitude was just 18km away from Hualien on Taiwan’s east coast.
The region is known for its mountainous terrain and officials say it is worst-hit, with most deaths and destruction reported from Hualien county.
The county of around 300,000 people is a scenic tourist centre away from the island’s urban areas.
Powerful aftershocks expected over next four days in Taiwan, official says
Taiwanese can expect ongoing powerful aftershocks measuring up to magnitude 6.5 or 7 in the next three or four days, said Wu Chien-fu, director of the Taiwanese Central Weather Administration’s Seismology Center, at a news conference.
Three hikers killed in rockslides - report
Three hikers have been killed in rockslides in Taroko National Park near the earthquake’s epicentre in Hualien County, according to a news report.
Local outlet United Daily News said they were killed due to falling rocks as the landslide occurred.
PM Fumio Kishida says Japan stands ready to provide any assistance
In a post on X, Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida said the country is ready to extend support to Taiwan following the earthquake.
Mr Kishida said he was “deeply saddened to hear” about the 7.2-magnitude earthquake and expressed “heartfelt sympathies to those affected”.
“We are grateful for the heartwarming support we received from our dear friends in Taiwan during the Great East Japan Earthquake and the recent Noto Peninsula earthquake,” he said.
Watch a live view of Taipei after deadly 7.2-magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan
Seven people confirmed dead in Taiwan earthquake
The death toll from the earthquake has risen to seven in Taiwan, the National Fire Agency said in its latest update.
As many as 711 people had been injured and 77 people were trapped under the rubble, it said.
More than 700 people injured and 77 missing in earthquake
Taiwanese government officials have said that more than 700 people have been injured in earthquake-related incidents.
The National Fire Agency (NFA) said 711 people have been injured across Taiwan while 77 people in in Hualien County remained trapped as of 2pm local time.
Taiwan’s Foxconn says no impact reported as semiconductor company orders evacuation
Taiwanese tech giant and key Apple supplier Foxconn has said there are no reports of impact from the earthquake yet.
Headquartered in Tucheng, New Taipei, Foxconn operates several manufacturing facilities and research centres.
Taiwanese semiconductor company TSMC temporarily evacuated workers from its manufacturing plants.
“TSMC’s safety systems are operating normally,” it said, adding “to ensure the safety of personnel, some fabs were evacuated according to company procedure.”
“All personnel are safe, and those evacuated are beginning to return to their workplaces,” TSMC said.
Around 100 buildings damaged across Taiwan
More than 15 buildings have been partially damaged in Changhua County, on the west coast, with one building totally collapsed, Taiwan’s fire department said.
Another 67 buildings have suffered some kind of damage in the same county.
One of the partially collapsed structures was a warehouse in New Taipei City.
Around 12 people have been rescued from a building in New Taipei City after its foundation sank into the ground.
Shocking videos show buildings dangerously tilted and landslides
Videos showed people experiencing violent shaking across Taiwan and there appears to be extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Multiple buildings in Hualien, a relatively sparsely populated city that’s popular with tourists, appeared heavily damaged, with photographs showing nine-storey buildings leaning at a 45-degree angle.
Another video from Hualien showed a massive landslide coming down. A cloud of dust appeared to swallow a section of the road and buildings nearby as residents watched.
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2024-04-03 07:46:40Z
CBMidGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL2FzaWEvZWFzdC1hc2lhL3RhaXdhbi1lYXJ0aHF1YWtlLXRzdW5hbWktd2FybmluZy1qYXBhbi1kZWF0aC10b2xsLWxhdGVzdC1iMjUyMjQzOS5odG1s0gEA
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