A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the east coast of Taiwan on Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Occurring at around 8 a.m. local time, the quake had a depth of approximately 21 miles and was located about 11 miles south-southwest of Hualien City. News reports and television footage showed collapsed buildings in the Hualien area near the epicenter, with some individuals reportedly trapped.
Following the earthquake, Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings for Okinawa, but later downgraded them to an advisory. The U.S. Tsunami Warning Center stated there was a potential tsunami threat of up to 1 meter for Japan and 1 to 3 meters for Taiwan. The Philippines were also expected to experience tsunami waves, with warnings from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology indicating that the waves could last for hours. However, there was no tsunami threat reported for New Zealand or the U.S. Pacific coast.
Taiwan’s meteorological agency listed the earthquake’s magnitude at 7.2. After the initial 7.4-magnitude quake, smaller earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.5, 5.7, and 5.5 were reported in the area. The USGS noted that the shaking from the initial earthquake would have been particularly strong in the Hualien area, as well as in Puli, and felt to a lesser extent in other locations. Witnesses reported feeling the earthquake in Shanghai, China, with Chinese state media confirming that it was also felt in Fujian province. Additionally, a live camera at Liyu Lake near Hualien captured the intense shaking at 7:58 a.m. local time.
Hualien City, with a population of approximately 106,000, is situated on the eastern coast of Taiwan, about 70 miles southeast of the capital, Taipei. The earthquake caused significant damage in the area, with reports of collapsed buildings and individuals being trapped in the aftermath. Despite the widespread impact of the earthquake, there were no reports of a tsunami threat in certain regions such as New Zealand and the U.S. Pacific coast. The earthquake had far-reaching effects, with witnesses reporting tremors in various parts of China and the live footage from Liyu Lake capturing the intensity of the seismic activity. The situation in Hualien City and surrounding areas called for immediate response and relief efforts to address the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.
