Taiwan was jolted by its most powerful earthquake in a quarter-century. The seismic event struck on the morning of Wednesday, April 3, registering a magnitude of 7.4 along the island's eastern coast. The toll, as reported by Taiwan's National Fire Agency, includes at least nine fatalities and 882 injuries, with numerous individuals still trapped beneath debris.
By 1 p.m. Kyiv time, a reported 131 individuals were listed as trapped, including 50 employees of Silks Place Hotel Taroko, unreachable via phone. The epicenter of the earthquake was identified by the US Geological Survey at 7:58 a.m. local time, situated 18 kilometers south of Hualien City, at a depth of 34.8 kilometers.
The aftermath saw numerous buildings in Hualien County reduced to rubble, with occupants trapped within. Landslides and rockfalls compounded the damage, disrupting transportation arteries and necessitating evacuations.
While triggering tsunami alerts across Taiwan, southern Japan, and the Philippines, resulting waves were modest, leading to the subsequent lifting of all warnings. Air travel saw temporary suspensions, subsequently restored. Power outages affected over 91,000 households, reported by Taiwan's Central Emergency Command Center.
Following the initial quake, a series of robust aftershocks reverberated throughout the island, including its capital, Taipei, where damage to both old and new structures occurred. In Hualian County, Taroko National Park visitors were among the casualties of landslides.
Structural damage was widespread, including a five-story building in Hualian County and infrastructure disruptions such as the partial collapse of a newly constructed overland line in Taipei. Schools took precautions, evacuating students to open areas and supplying protective gear.
Transportation networks, including trains and the Taipei subway, experienced suspensions, with traffic along the east coast severely impacted by landslides and debris, though no injuries were reported.
Though felt across China, Japan, and the Philippines, no formal warnings were issued for impending seismic activity.
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