Deadly Earthquake Strikes Taiwan: Death Toll Rises, Tsunami Warnings Issued

A devastating earthquake rattled Taiwan’s eastern coast early Wednesday morning, leaving a trail of destruction and prompting widespread panic across the region. The seismic event, with conflicting reports on its magnitude, has claimed lives, injured hundreds, and raised fears of a tsunami hitting coastal areas.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake registered a magnitude of 7.4, while Japan’s Meteorological Agency pegged it at 7.7. Regardless of the variation, both agencies acknowledged the severity of the quake, which struck shortly before 8 am local time, shaking buildings and knocking out power in several areas.

The epicentre of the earthquake was situated approximately 18 kilometres south of Taiwan’s Hualien City, at a shallow depth of 34.8 kilometres. This proximity to land amplified its impact, with tremors felt across Taiwan extending to regions as far as Shanghai, China.

In the aftermath of the quake, reports emerged of collapsed buildings, particularly in Hualien County, a mountainous region along Taiwan’s eastern coast. The death toll has tragically risen to seven, with the number of injuries soaring to 736, according to the National Fire Agency. All fatalities occurred in Hualien, where emergency responders continue to sift through rubble in search of survivors.

Images captured by Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) depicted chaos and rescue efforts, with emergency workers tending to survivors trapped beneath debris in New Taipei City. In Hualien, a five-story building bore the brunt of the quake, collapsing its first floor and leaving the remainder precariously slanted.

Tsunami warnings were swiftly issued for Taiwan, parts of southern Japan, and the Philippines, heightening concerns of further devastation. Reports indicated waves as high as three meters could hit remote Japanese islands, prompting urgent evacuation orders and maritime alerts.

In the wake of the earthquake, transportation services across Taiwan were disrupted, with train and subway services suspended. Despite the chaos, normalcy slowly returned to Taipei, with children attending school and commuters resuming their routines.

The director of Taipei’s Seismology Centre describes it as the strongest in 25 years since the deadly 1999 earthquake that claimed thousands of lives. Authorities are mobilizing resources to provide aid and support to those affected.