taiwan earthquake

Video: Massive Earthquake Strikes Taiwan! Death Toll Soars to 7, With 77 Still Trapped

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Taiwan was struck by its most powerful earthquake in over 25 years, resulting in the tragic loss of seven lives. The quake also left more than 700 people injured, with 77 individuals still trapped in the aftermath.

Taiwan Struck by Devastating Earthquake: 7 Lives Lost, 700 Injured, and 77 Trapped

In a seismic catastrophe that reverberated across Taiwan, the most powerful earthquake in over 25 years claimed seven lives and left more than 700 people injured. The epicenter of the 7.2 magnitude quake lay just offshore near the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien. Television broadcasts showcased buildings precariously tilted at alarming angles, while the quake’s force prompted residents to seek safety as if their homes were on the brink of toppling.

The quake struck at a depth of 15.5 kilometers (9.6 miles), coinciding with the morning rush hour as people headed to work and school. A subsequent tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines was eventually lifted. Rescuers, undeterred by the perilous conditions, employed ladders to extract trapped individuals from windows. Meanwhile, landslides wreaked havoc, and in Taipei, strong tremors briefly forced the subway system to halt, although most lines resumed service.

Among the approximately 77 trapped, about 60 were caught in a tunnel just north of Hualien city, including two German nationals in another tunnel. The government reported 736 injuries in the aftermath. President-elect Lai Ching-te, slated to take office next month, will visit Hualien later today.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Beyond Taiwan Borders

Beyond Taiwan’s borders, the quake’s impact rippled across Japan, where the weather agency pegged its magnitude at 7.7. Small tsunami waves reached parts of the southern prefecture of Okinawa, prompting a downgrade from a tsunami warning to an advisory. In the Philippines, seismology officials issued warnings to coastal residents, urging them to seek higher ground. Even in China’s southeastern province of Fujian, the tremors were felt, and a Reuters witness confirmed their presence in Shanghai, the bustling commercial hub.

In the wake of the powerful earthquake, aftershocks continued to reverberate through Taipei, with more than 50 recorded by weather officials. However, the island’s resilience was evident as most power was swiftly restored, and the two nuclear power stations remained unscathed.

Taiwan’s high-speed rail operator reported no damage or injuries on its trains, although services faced delays due to necessary inspections. Meanwhile, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a critical chip supplier for Apple and Nvidia, took precautionary measures by evacuating some fabrication plants. Fortunately, safety systems operated as expected.

“To safeguard our personnel, we followed company procedures and evacuated certain fabs,” stated the semiconductor giant. Subsequently, employees began returning to work.

Despite the seismic upheaval, Taiwan’s benchmark share index only dipped by 0.6%, seemingly brushing off the quake’s impact. However, TSMC’s Taipei-listed shares experienced a more pronounced decline of 1.3%.

Reflecting on history, the official central news agency highlighted that this quake was the most significant since the 7.6 magnitude event in 1999, which tragically claimed approximately 2,400 lives and left 50,000 buildings damaged or destroyed.

Taiwan’s weather officials categorized the earthquake’s intensity in Hualien county as “Upper 6” on a scale from 1 to 7. Such a quake has the potential to collapse walls unless they are reinforced with concrete blocks. Additionally, people find it impossible to stand upright and must crawl to move, as described by Japan’s weather agency.

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