According to the US Geological Survey, the quake had a magnitude of 7.4, while Japanese seismologists put it at 7.7 and Taiwan’s at 7.2. The epicenter of the tremors was located 18 kilometers southeast of the port of Chua-lien in the east of the island.
The epicenter of the earthquake, which struck shortly before eight in the morning (before 2:00 a.m. CEST), was located at a depth of 35 kilometers, the AP agency reported.
The nearest Japanese islands in the southern prefecture of Okinawa already reported the arrival of the first wave of a tsunami approximately 30 centimeters high 15 minutes after the tremors. Authorities have suspended operations at the airport in the Okinawan administrative center of Naha until further notice.
According to the agencies, television footage shows how some buildings have crumbled or collapsed in eastern Taiwan. According to local media, people remained trapped in them.
Photo: Uncredited, ČTK/AP
Image taken from TVBS video shows a partially collapsed building in Hualien, eastern Taiwan
For example, according to some information from social media, a multi-story commercial and residential building in Chualien, eastern Taiwan partially collapsed due to the earthquake.
Other footage on social media shows massive mudslides and huge rocks tumbling down mountains in Taiwan.
A rock slide has caused a section of Highway 9 to collapse on the west side of the Qingshui Tunnel in eastern Taiwan.
In the metropolis of the island of Taipei, parts of some older houses and newer office buildings were falling off, AP writes.
Train services were interrupted on the entire island with 23 million inhabitants, some parts of it lost electricity supplies. According to the authorities, the local nuclear power plants are out of danger.
People in the metropolis also felt weaker aftershocks after the strongest first earthquake. According to Reuters, the authorities are still talking about at least one victim of the tremors, which also injured about 50 people.
Footage is emerging of massive destruction on Guishan Island (Turtle Mountain Island), a turtle-shaped island in eastern Taiwan.
Japan reports no casualties or significant damage.
The tectonically active area is a frequent scene of devastating earthquakes. According to Taiwanese seismologists, Wednesday’s earthquake was the strongest since 1999, when a 7.6-magnitude temblor left 2,400 dead on the island.
Japan was hit by its last major earthquake earlier this year. The 7.6-magnitude event killed over 200 people and caused a meter-long tsunami and landslides.
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Greece
Europe
Tags: Taiwan hit devastating earthquake strongest quarter century
