- Taiwan claimed the lives of almost 2,400 people when a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the island.
- Injuries from the earthquake were treated for by roughly 60 persons, according to the National Fire Agency.
- Residents of Hong Kong and China’s eastern province of Fujian reported experiencing the earthquake on social media.
The biggest natural disaster in Taiwan’s history, a nation noted for its frequent earthquakes, claimed the lives of almost 2,400 people when a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the island.
The epicenter of the earthquake, which occurred just before 8:00 am local time, was 34.8 kilometers deep and located 18 kilometers south of Hualien City. Social media was inundated with uploaded videos and pictures of buildings trembling as the earthquake struck, causing significant damage to buildings and landslides.
Earthquake in Taiwan
The national army would also offer support, according to President Tsai Ing-wen, who also urged coordination between regional and national government institutions. Injuries from the earthquake were treated for by roughly 60 persons, according to the National Fire Agency, which also verified the death toll.
Although a tsunami warning was initially issued by Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center announced that the threat had “largely passed.” Philippines metro officials issued a warning to residents to check for gas leaks when it momentarily stopped running.
Because Taiwan is situated close to the meeting point of two tectonic plates, it experiences earthquakes frequently. Japan, not far away, receives about 1,500 shocks annually.
Residents of Hong Kong and people in China’s eastern province of Fujian reported experiencing the earthquake on social media. Claiming self-ruled Taiwan as a province gone feral, China said it was “willing to provide disaster relief assistance” and was “paying close attention” to the earthquake.
Numerous variables, including the epicenter’s location and depth below the Earth’s surface, affect how severe tsunamis are. The largest recorded earthquake in Japan occurred in March 2011, an enormous 9.0 magnitude underwater tremor that set up a tsunami that killed or left almost 18,500 people missing.
The 2011 accident, which also resulted in the meltdown of three reactors, left the Fukushima nuclear complex with the greatest nuclear accident since Chornobyl and the largest post-war disaster in Japan.
