At least nine people were killed and 800 others injured after a 7.3-magnitude quake jolted Taiwan on Wednesday morning, according to the local emergency operation centre. The earthquake hit the sea area near Hualien County, Taiwan, causing significant damage and casualties.
Due to the earthquake, a nearly 40-year-old building in Hualien has tilted severely, resulting in multiple trapped residents. One woman remains missing as rescue efforts continue. The railway linking Yilan County and Hualien has been severely disrupted, with collapses and falling rocks reported.
Ongoing aftershocks in Hualien have hindered repair personnel from accessing affected areas. The current priority is to restore the Taiwan railway service, with dual-track travel on the rail line section connecting Yilan and Hualien expected to be restored by Thursday noon. The earthquake also caused damage to school buildings in Taipei.
Taichung City, near Hualien, experienced severe shaking as well, with falling rocks striking cars and causing injuries. Power outages for over 14,000 households were temporarily reported in Taichung. The earthquake is the strongest to hit Taiwan in 25 years.
The mainland expressed concern for Taiwan compatriots affected by the disaster. Tsunami alerts were issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources warning center but have since been lifted. The quake triggered a local tsunami near the epicenter, impacting coastal areas of Taiwan.
The epicenter of the earthquake was 25 km south-southeast of Hualien, with a maximum intensity recorded of 6 magnitude in Hualien County. Work and school classes have been suspended in Hualien, where multiple residential buildings partially collapsed, leading to evacuations. Multiple aftershocks above 5.0 magnitude hit the region.
