April 3rd 2024.
A powerful earthquake and its aftershocks have shaken Taiwan, causing widespread destruction and leaving at least four people dead. The earthquake, which struck at 8am on Wednesday, measured 7.4 on the Richter scale and was the strongest to hit the region in 25 years. The epicenter of the quake was in Hualien County, where four fatalities have been reported. In addition, 57 people have been injured and many buildings have sustained heavy damage.
The tremors from the earthquake triggered a small tsunami, which reached as far as southern Japan without causing any harm. Nevertheless, authorities in Japan have urged residents in the Okinawa region to remain on high ground until all tsunami advisories are lifted. They have also advised against believing any misinformation and have urged people to stay calm and help others in need.
The Japan Meteorological Agency had initially warned of a possible tsunami of up to three meters for the southern Japanese island group of Okinawa. Pictures from the scene in Taiwan show a severely damaged five-storey building in Hualien, with the first floor collapsed and the rest of the building leaning at a 45-degree angle. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to find survivors amidst the rubble.
In the capital city of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings and some newer office complexes were also affected. Train and subway services were suspended across the island, and the national legislature building, which is a converted school from the Second World War, also sustained damage to its walls and ceilings.
Schools in the affected areas have been evacuated, with students being taken to sports fields and given yellow safety helmets for protection. Some students even used textbooks as shields against falling objects during the aftershocks. The earthquake also caused major disruptions to traffic along the east coast, with landslides and debris blocking tunnels and highways.
For many residents, this earthquake was the first time they had experienced such intense shaking. One resident of Taipei, Hsien-hsuen Keng, said she was scared to tears by the earthquake and had never felt such strong tremors before. Another resident, Wu Chien-fu, who heads Taiwan's earthquake monitoring bureau, said that the effects of the quake were felt as far away as Kinmen, a Taiwanese-controlled island off the coast of China.
Chinese media have confirmed that the earthquake was also felt in Shanghai and several provinces along China's southeastern coast. However, no tsunami warnings were issued for the Chinese mainland. In Fujian province, residents reported violent shaking and one man said that the tremors lasted for about a minute.
The Philippines, which is located near the epicenter of the earthquake, issued evacuation warnings to residents along the northern coast. However, no major tsunami was reported after three hours of monitoring. In the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Isabela, villagers were asked to avoid returning to their homes until the tsunami alert was lifted.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has confirmed that there is no threat of a tsunami for Hawaii or Guam. This earthquake is believed to be the strongest to hit Taiwan since 1999, when a 7.7 magnitude quake caused widespread devastation, resulting in thousands of deaths, injuries, and destroyed buildings. Taiwan is located along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where most of the world's earthquakes occur.
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