An earthquake struck the island of Taiwan early Wednesday, resulting in tragic consequences. The seismic event claimed the lives of four individuals and left more than 50 people injured in the mountainous eastern county of Hualien, where the epicenter was located. The disaster led to the collapse of at least 26 buildings, with over half of them situated in the city of Hualien. Rescue efforts are underway as approximately 20 individuals remain trapped in the rubble.
Images and videos circulating on social media depict the extent of the destruction, with buildings visibly shaken off their foundations. In Hualien, a five-story structure suffered severe damage, causing its first floor to collapse and the rest of the building to tilt at a precarious 45-degree angle. The impact of the earthquake was also felt in the capital city of Taipei, where tiles fell from older buildings and some newer office complexes were affected.
The earthquake, initially reported as a 7.5 magnitude by the U.S. Geological Survey, was later upgraded to 7.7 by Taiwan's earthquake monitoring agency. The tremors were felt as far as the Taiwanese-controlled island of Kinmen off the coast of China. The seismic activity prompted a brief tsunami warning for coastal areas of southwestern Japan, with waves exceeding 9 feet in some regions.
Train services across Taiwan were suspended, but daily activities in Taipei seemed to proceed as usual, with children heading to school and commuters navigating the morning rush. Despite initial concerns, authorities confirmed that there was no tsunami threat to the West Coast states of the U.S., including California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as Alaska and British Columbia in Canada. Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency also reassured residents that there was no imminent danger of a tsunami.
This earthquake is believed to be the most significant to hit Taiwan since the devastating temblor in 1999. Taiwan's location along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' a region known for frequent seismic activity, underscores the constant threat of earthquakes in the area.
