Taiwan recently experienced its most powerful earthquake in a quarter-century, claiming the lives of four individuals and leaving over 50 injured.
The seismic event, registering a magnitude of 7.7 according to Japan’s meteorological agency, struck close to Hualien, a renowned tourist destination on Taiwan’s eastern shore.
The disaster brought about building collapses, power failures, and landslides, and prompted initial tsunami alerts as far as southern Japan and the Philippines.
Videos circulating on social media platforms depict dramatic scenes of children being rescued from crumbled residential structures.
Among the heavily impacted buildings was a five-story edifice in Hualien, with its lower floor entirely collapsed and the rest of the structure tilting at a precarious 45-degree angle.
The aftermath of the quake saw numerous individuals and vehicles trapped within the Dachingshui tunnel, while railway lines suffered damage, prompting closures of educational and professional institutions across extensive parts of the city.
Eyewitnesses in Hualien reported harrowing experiences of navigating amidst falling rocks dislodged from nearby mountains, while others hastily sought refuge outdoors as the tremors intensified.
Elsewhere, Guishan Island, a notable tourist spot also known as Turtle Island, witnessed a portion of its headland sliding into the sea.
In the capital, Taipei, several individuals were rescued from a warehouse that had partially collapsed, with reports of falling tiles from buildings.
Although Japan measured the quake at 7.7 magnitude, Taiwan’s own seismic monitoring agency recorded it as a 7.2 magnitude event, making it the most potent quake to hit the island since 1999, when a 7.6 magnitude tremor claimed thousands of lives.
TSMC, Taiwan’s leading semiconductor manufacturer, had to evacuate its production lines due to the earthquake, impacting the global supply chain for advanced semiconductors.
The quake was followed by over 15 aftershocks, although their intensity has been diminishing over time.
In central Taipei, signs of damage were evident on certain structures, including the Howard Plaza Hotel, where brickwork had been dislodged, and parts of the signage were affected.
Mike Hung Hsu, a US citizen staying at the hotel, recounted being startled awake by the quake, expressing disbelief at its intensity compared to earthquakes experienced in Los Angeles.
Initial reports from Japanese media suggested the possibility of significant waves in Okinawa prefecture, prompting precautionary measures, but these forecasts were later downgraded, with no reports of substantial damage or injuries.
Despite the lifting of tsunami advisories, Japanese authorities cautioned residents to remain vigilant due to the likelihood of aftershocks.
The earthquake’s epicenter was reported to be 18 kilometers south of Hualien, with a depth of 34.8 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Meanwhile, the Philippines’ seismology agency issued and later retracted a tsunami warning for coastal areas facing the Pacific Ocean.
This recent seismic event in Taiwan serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and devastating nature of earthquakes, underscoring the importance of preparedness and response measures in vulnerable regions.