A strong earthquake struck Taiwan on Wednesday morning, resulting in significant damage to buildings across the island. According to the National Fire Agency (NFA), a total of 97 buildings have been reported damaged as a result of the powerful tremors.
Hualien County, located near the epicenter of the earthquake, bore the brunt of the damage, with approximately half of the affected buildings situated in this area. Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei revealed that four buildings in the county had partially collapsed, with one of them being the nine-storey Uranus Building.
Rescue operations are currently underway at the Uranus Building, which is leaning to the right after its ground floor collapsed. While twenty-two individuals have been successfully rescued from the building, efforts are ongoing to locate and assist the remaining resident still inside.
The safety of residents remains a top priority, with authorities working diligently to ensure that all individuals are evacuated from the damaged buildings. The NFA continues to coordinate search and rescue efforts to address the aftermath of the earthquake and provide assistance to those affected by the natural disaster.
