In Taiwan’s most powerful earthquake in 25 years, nine people have lost their lives, 50 people are missing and over 1,000 others have been injured, Reuters reported.
The 7.2 magnitude earthquake, struck near the county of Hualien at around 8 am local time yesterday, with its epicentre located in waters south of Hualien county, on the island’s east coast.
The earthquake has caused buildings to tilt and triggered landslides. Many individuals have sought refuge in tents and other temporary shelters. Emergency workers are working to stabilise damaged structures, while others have begun demolishing buildings deemed beyond repair.
Hualien’s mayor confirmed the evacuation of residents and businesses from unstable buildings and the initiation of demolition activities on four structures. More than 50 aftershocks have been recorded, weather officials said.
Taipower, the electricity utility in Taiwan, announced that power has been mostly restored. The island’s two nuclear power stations have remained unaffected.
The high-speed rail operator in Taiwan has reported no train damages or injuries, but services would experience delays as thorough inspections were conducted to ensure safety.
The quake is the most powerful to have hit the island since 1999, when a powerful quake struck south of Taipei, killing 2,400 people and injuring thousands.
Wednesday’s tremors were felt as far afield as Hong Kong and Shanghai, and sparked tsunami warnings in the Philippines and Japan that were later downgraded.
[See more: Macao authorities are already making preparations for typhoon season]
Earthquakes are common in Taiwan, owing to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which creates turbulent seismic activity in the parts of the world that lie along it, from Southeast Asia up through to Japan and across to the western coasts of North and South America.
A spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said that Beijing was monitoring the situation and willing to provide disaster relief assistance.
– First published on 3 April at 11:45 am
