Taipei: Taiwan was jolted by a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, marking the most intense seismic activity to hit the island in a quarter-century. The temblor resulted in four fatalities, numerous injuries, and significant structural damage. The epicenter of the quake was in the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien.
The Taiwanese government confirmed the tragic loss of four lives in Hualien, with over 50 individuals sustaining injuries. Reports indicate that at least 26 buildings, primarily in Hualien, have collapsed, leaving approximately 20 people trapped beneath the rubble as rescue efforts persist.
Witnesses described the harrowing experience as buildings swayed precariously during the morning hours, causing widespread panic among residents. The quake, with a depth of 15.5 kilometers (9.6 miles), struck just offshore around 8 am local time.
Taiwanese citizen Chang Yu-Lin, a 60-year-old hospital worker from Taipei, recounted, “It was very strong. It felt as if the house was going to topple.”
The seismic event triggered tsunami warnings for southern Japan and the Philippines, prompting evacuations in coastal regions. Although small tsunami waves reached parts of Okinawa in Japan, the warnings were later downgraded. Taiwan also issued a tsunami alert but reported no significant impact, subsequently confirmed by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii.
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Even as aftershocks continued to rattle Taipei, causing further unease, the city government assured that no major damage was reported. However, electricity outages affected over 87,000 households, though nuclear power stations remained unaffected.
In response to the quake, semiconductor giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) evacuated some facilities as a precautionary measure. While disruptions were minimal, shares of TSMC and other technology firms experienced slight declines in early trading.
This seismic event marks the most substantial earthquake to hit Taiwan since 1999, when a 7.6 magnitude quake claimed thousands of lives and caused widespread destruction. The Central Weather Administration categorized this recent quake as an “Upper 6” intensity event, indicating severe structural damage and widespread disruption.
As Taiwan grapples with the aftermath of this devastating earthquake, efforts are underway to assess the extent of the damage and provide support to affected communities.
