Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in 25 years kills one person

Taipei: A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan on Wednesday, the island’s strongest in at least 25 years, killing one person, injuring dozens and triggering tsunami warnings in southern Japan and the Philippines.

Taiwan’s fire department said people were suspected of being crushed to death by falling rocks in the sparsely populated Hualien County in the eastern mountainous area where the epicenter was located, and more than 50 people were injured.

At least 26 buildings collapsed, more than half of them in Hualien, and about 20 people were trapped. Rescue efforts are underway.

Taiwanese television showed footage of crumbling buildings in Hualien, where the quake struck offshore at around 8am (0000 GMT) as people were going to work and school.

According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, the earthquake’s focal depth was 15.5 kilometers (9.6 miles).

“It’s very strong, it feels like the house is going to fall down,” said Chang Yu-Lin, 60, a hospital worker in Taipei.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said it downgraded an earlier tsunami warning to advisory level after several small tsunamis hit parts of southern Okinawa prefecture. The magnitude of the earthquake was 7.7.

The Philippine Earthquake Administration also issued warnings to residents in coastal areas of several provinces, urging them to evacuate to higher ground.

Taiwan also issued a tsunami warning but reported no damage, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii later said the risk of damage from the tsunami had passed.

According to Reuters witnesses, aftershocks are still possible in Taipei, and according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, more than 25 aftershocks have been recorded so far.

Chinese state media said the quake was felt in China’s Fujian province, while Reuters witnesses said it was also felt in Shanghai.

The Taipei City Government said it had not received any reports of major damage and the city’s MRT was quickly back in service after the quake, while power operator Taipower said more than 87,000 households in Taiwan were still without power.

Taipower added that Taiwan’s two nuclear power plants were not affected by the earthquake.

Taiwan’s high-speed rail operator said there were no reports of damage or injuries to its trains, but noted that trains would be delayed while inspections were conducted.

Semiconductor giant TSMC said it has evacuated some manufacturing plants and that safety systems are operating normally.

“To ensure personnel safety, some fabs have been evacuated in accordance with company procedures. We are currently confirming the details of the impact,” the company said.

It was later added that those who had evacuated began returning to their workplaces.

TSMC’s stock price fell 1.4% in early trading, Apple supplier Foxconn’s stock price fell more than 2%, and tablet manufacturer AUO’s stock price fell 1.7%.

Taiwan’s official Central News Agency said it was Taiwan’s worst earthquake on record since 1999, when a 7.6-magnitude earthquake killed about 2,400 people and destroyed or damaged 50,000 buildings. one.

Taiwan’s Central Meteorological Bureau stated that this earthquake was the second most intense “above magnitude 6” earthquake in Hualien County, with magnitudes ranging from 1 to 7.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said that in a magnitude 6 earthquake, most unreinforced concrete block walls would collapse and people would find it impossible to stay standing or move without crawling.