Taiwan was rocked by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, the strongest to strike the island in 25 years, leaving at least four people dead and causing widespread damage in the eastern city of Hualien. The tremor, which occurred at a depth of 15.5km (9.6 miles) and had its epicenter about 18km (11 miles) south of Hualien, triggered tsunami warnings across Taiwan and neighboring countries.
Rescue efforts are underway in Hualien, the city closest to the epicenter, where multiple buildings collapsed due to the intensity of the quake. Footage from local media outlets showed collapsed residential buildings, people being evacuated from their homes and schools, and vehicles and store items scattered in disarray.
The impact of the earthquake was felt throughout Taiwan, with the capital Taipei experiencing violent shaking of buildings. Wu Chien Fu, the director of Taipei’s Seismology Center, described the tremor as “close to land and shallow,” adding that it’s “the strongest in 25 years” and was “felt all over Taiwan and offshore islands.”
Major infrastructure disruptions were reported across the island, with power cuts and internet outages affecting various regions, according to internet monitoring group NetBlocks. Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC, a major supplier to tech firms like Apple and Nvidia, evacuated some of its factories in Hsinchu and southern Taiwan for the safety of its staff, although it stated that its safety systems were operating normally.
The earthquake set off at least nine aftershocks of magnitude 4 or higher and prompted tsunami warnings in Taiwan and neighboring countries. While Japan initially warned of potential tsunami waves up to 3 meters high along its southwestern coast, authorities later downgraded the warning but advised residents to remain vigilant for aftershocks.
In 1999, Taiwan experienced a devastating 7.6-magnitude earthquake that claimed the lives of 2,400 people and destroyed 5,000 buildings. Wednesday’s quake serves as a stark reminder of the island’s vulnerability to seismic activity and the urgent need for robust disaster preparedness measures.
As rescue teams continue their efforts in Hualien, the focus remains on saving lives and providing aid to affected communities. The earthquake’s impact has once again underscored the unpredictable and destructive power of nature, prompting calls for enhanced resilience and emergency response capabilities in the face of such catastrophic events.
