A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck Taiwan on April 3, causing buildings to collapse and leading to a tsunami warning across parts of the Asia-Pacific region. The quake, which is the strongest the island has seen in 25 years, hit at 7:58 am local time near the eastern city of Hualien, as per the U.S. Geological Survey. It resulted in the tragic death of at least multiple people, with many more expected to be reported injured or displaced in the aftermath.
This seismic event was so powerful that the shaking was felt as far as Taipei, approximately 100 miles away, and even in Shanghai, about 500 miles to the north. As the earth trembled, images started pouring in, showing buildings off their foundations, highways damaged by landslides, and communities plunged into darkness as power outages swept through Hualien, where “87,000 residents were without power”.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration spokesperson warned of powerful aftershocks, potentially up to magnitude 7, expected to continue throughout the week. Rescue efforts are underway, with the Taiwan military mobilized to assist in disaster relief operations.Taiwan’s transportation authorities said train service was suspended island-wide, as well as subway service in Taipei. Videos from the epicenter show rockslides covering roads and houses that were knocked off-kilter.
The quake has had far-reaching consequences, prompting Japan’s Meteorological Agency to forecast a potential tsunami of up to 3 meters for islands in southern Japan. A wave measuring approximately 30 centimeters struck the coast of Yonaguni island shortly after the quake. Similarly, in the Philippines, authorities advised evacuation for people in coastal areas due to tsunami warnings, although these warnings were later lifted, marking a slight ease in the immediate regional threat.
The quake also impacted industry, as Bloomberg News reported the evacuation of production lines at TSMC, the world’s leading maker of cutting-edge microchips. The disruption extended to transportation, with train services across Taiwan and subway services in Taipei temporarily suspended, emphasizing the quake’s significant impact on Taiwan’s infrastructure and daily life.
Taiwan is no stranger to seismic activity, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is notorious for its frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The last quake of such magnitude to strike the island was the “Jiji” earthquake in 1999, which measured at 7.3 and resulted in over 2,400 deaths.
“There was really strong shaking… We quickly turned off the gas and electricity and opened the door. It was really strong. It felt like the house would fall down,” Taipei resident Chang Yu-lin said on CNN affiliate Taiwan Plus.
Chen Nien-tzu, also in Taipei, said, “It was really wild.”
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had an earthquake so it felt really scary,” she said on Taiwan Plus.
Relevant articles:
– A strong earthquake rocks Taiwan, collapsing buildings and causing a tsunami
– Taiwan’s strongest quake in 25 years collapses buildings as rescue workers scramble to respond CNN, Wed, 03 Apr 2024 03:27:00 GMT
– Taiwan earthquake live updates Buildings damaged after 7.4-magnitude quake, strongest in 25 years The Washington Post, Wed, 03 Apr 2024 03:15:33 GMT
– Taiwan earthquake live updates: buildings collapse after strongest quake in 25 years; Japan lifts tsunami warnings The Guardian, Wed, 03 Apr 2024 03:08:38 GMT