1. A 7.7-magnitude quake hits Taiwan’s eastern region, triggering tsunami warnings for the island and southern Japan.
2. Strongest quake in 25 years, causing widespread devastation and claiming at least one life.
3. Over 50 people were reported injured as buildings collapsed and infrastructure damage occurred.
Taiwan, April 03: A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked Taiwan’s eastern region on Wednesday, April 3, triggering tsunami warnings not only for the island but also for parts of southern Japan.
The quake, one of the strongest in 25 years, struck shortly before 8 am local time, causing widespread devastation and claiming at least one life, with more than 50 people injured.
The quake’s epicenter was located 18 kilometers south of Taiwan’s Hualien City at a depth of 34.8 km, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), while Japan’s Meteorological Agency measured its magnitude at 7.7.
The director of Taipei’s Seismology Center described it as the most powerful earthquake since the deadly 1999 quake, which killed 2,400 people.
The impact of the earthquake was felt far beyond Taiwan’s borders, with reports of buildings collapsing and damage to infrastructure in various parts of the island.
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In Hualien, a five-story building suffered extensive damage, with its first floor collapsing and the rest tilting at a precarious angle. In Taipei, the capital city, older buildings lost tiles, while newer office complexes experienced structural damage.
The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings in both Taiwan and Japan, with waves as high as three meters expected in some coastal areas. Japanese broadcaster NHK urged residents to evacuate immediately, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Scenes of ships leaving ports in the Okinawa region underscored the efforts to protect vessels from potential damage.
Despite the widespread disruption caused by the earthquake, normalcy began to return relatively quickly. Train and subway services were temporarily suspended, but children still went to school, and commuters resumed their morning routines in Taipei.
However, aftershocks continued to rattle the region, serving as a stark reminder of the seismic vulnerability faced by Taiwan and neighboring areas.
Taiwan’s history is marked by seismic activity, with the 1999 earthquake serving as a grim reminder of the potential devastation that earthquakes can cause.
Similarly, Japan experiences frequent tremors, with approximately 1,500 earthquakes recorded annually.
The resilience of these regions in the face of such natural disasters highlights the importance of preparedness and effective response measures to mitigate the impact on lives and infrastructure.
As rescue efforts continue and the affected communities begin to rebuild, the earthquake serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable forces of nature and the ongoing need for vigilance in earthquake-prone regions.
