Powerful earthquake has rocked Taiwan

A powerful earthquake, described as the strongest in decades, has rocked Taiwan, raising widespread concerns about possible aftershocks. Wu Chien-fu, director of the Central Meteorological Administration's seismological center in Taipei, emphasized the earthquake's proximity to land and its shallow depth, which made it widely felt in Taiwan and its coastal islands.

At approximately 8:00 am local time, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck, with its epicenter situated 18 kilometers south of Hualien City, as reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake incident resulted in tragic deaths and many injuries. Three of a group of seven people who were hiking in the hills around the city were killed by falling rocks. In addition, casualties occurred when vehicles collided with falling rocks and another person died after falling into a mine. The National Fire Agency reported 882 injuries, although details on their severity were not immediately provided.

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Social media platforms were flooded with videos and photos capturing the magnitude of the earthquake, showing shaking buildings and structural damage. Eyewitnesses described experiencing violent shaking, with objects falling from shelves and furniture collapsing.

Dramatic scenes broadcast on local television showed multi-story buildings leaning precariously and warehouses collapsing. A warehouse collapsed in New Taipei City and more than 50 survivors were rescued from the rubble. Rescue operations were underway after the mudslide cut off access to the coastal city of Hualien, home to about 100,000 residents.

Efforts were underway to clear blocked roads, especially those leading to Hualien, and tunnels were being closely inspected for trapped people. President-elect and incumbent Vice-President Lai Ching-tay stressed the urgent need for rapid relief operations, recognizing the potentially large number of stranded people.

Engineers rushed to repair the severed main railway line along the east coast, a key transport route linking the capital with the southern regions. President Tsai Ing-wen stressed smooth coordination between local and central government agencies and called for additional support for the military in relief efforts.