Taiwan was hit by the strongest earthquake in 25 years early Wednesday, collapsing buildings and triggering landslides, killing several people and leaving dozens missing.
Rescue operations are underway after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan around 8 a.m. local time Wednesday (1 a.m. GMT, 2 a.m. ET Tuesday). Local media reported that the death toll had risen to nine and could rise further due to search efforts for 77 people believed to be missing.
Reports said the missing included a group of 50 tourists who were on their way to a rural hotel in the national park. The group was traveling in four minibuses, but their whereabouts are unknown. Taiwan’s next president, Lai Ching-de, told reporters that the priority now is to find survivors.
Turkiye, Ankara – April 3: Infographic titled “Strong earthquake shakes Taiwan” created in Ankara, Turkiye on April 3, 2024 (Photo by: Yasin Demirci/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A vehicle lies on a road that collapsed due to an earthquake in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Taiwan has been hit by the strongest earthquake in a quarter of a century, with dozens of buildings collapsing from the quake’s impact. More than 50 people were injured on the east side of the island, and some chip production lines were disrupted.Photographer: An Rong Xu/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Houses and roads damaged by an earthquake in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Photographer: An Rong Xu/Bloomberg via Getty Images
HUALIEN, Taiwan – April 3: Air Force 6th Composite Wing and 10th Airlift Group conduct disaster relief operations and transport rescuers as search and rescue team members prepare for post-disaster. The C-130 aircraft flew three sorties in three separate phases. A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 occurred this morning, causing disaster in the Hualien region of Taiwan on April 3, 2024. Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter of a century rocked the island during the morning rush on Wednesday, damaging buildings and triggering a tsunami that washed up on the coast. on the southern islands of Japan. (Photo provided by: Taiwan Ministry of Defense/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Hualien, Taiwan – April 3: Following a strong magnitude 7.4 earthquake this morning, the military’s 2nd Combat District dispatched liaison officers and intelligence officers to the county government (Photo courtesy of Army Headquarters (MND)) /Anadolu via Getty Images)
Taipei, Taiwan – April 3: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and Secretary-General Chen Chien-ren visit the Central Disaster Response Center and hold a press conference (Photo courtesy of Taiwan Presidential Office/Anadolu, Getty Images)
The epicenter of the earthquake is believed to be underground in Hualien, a small city on the east coast facing the Pacific Ocean. This city of 100,000 people is approximately 120 miles south of Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, Republic of China. Despite the distance, some damage has been evident in the capital, including to Taipei’s subway system.
Not only buildings were damaged, including a steel-framed building that appeared to have been nearly toppled on its side, but buildings in rural areas were also damaged by the landslide. According to Taiwanese authorities, five of the people known to have died in the earthquake were hit by falling rocks, and three of them were hiking on a nature trail in Hualien province.
More than 800 people were reported injured. A tsunami warning was issued but later withdrawn. The quake was measured to be the strongest to hit Taiwan since 1999, which killed 2,411 people and caused widespread power outages. The high death toll is partly due to the poor quality of building construction. 2000 report It claimed that two-thirds of the deaths occurred in buildings that were not authorized by engineers. Improved building quality since the shocking 1999 earthquake may also be one reason why the death toll from similar-sized earthquakes today is relatively low.
As the UK’s BBC pointed out, China has been quick to offer aid to Taiwan, but Taiwan claims all of Taiwan as its own territory, and China is frequently discussed as a risk of Russian-Ukrainian-style aggression. Rejected offers of aid from the government.
Hualien, Taiwan – April 3: Members of a search and rescue team prepare to enter a leaning building (Photo credit: National Fire Protection Agency/Anadolu, Getty Images)
An elevated line of the Taipei subway is damaged by an earthquake in Taipei, Taiwan, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Photographer: An Rong Xu/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Taichung, Taiwan – April 3: A magnitude 7.4 earthquake off Taiwan’s east coast causes a small car to be severely damaged and its windshield shattered by a falling rock in Zhonghangheji, killing at least four people and injuring hundreds. did. Photographed on the Richter scale on April 3, 2024 in Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo credit: Guguan Public Works Section/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Taichung, Taiwan – April 3: A 7.4 Richter-scale earthquake struck off Taiwan’s east coast in Taichung, killing at least four people and injuring hundreds. I almost got hit by a falling rock. April 3, 2024, Taiwan. The passengers on the bus are still waiting for rescue. (Photo credit: Guiseki Public Works Department/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Hualien, Taiwan – April 3: The Uranus Building on Xuanyuan Road is leaning heavily (Photo courtesy of Hualien County Fire Department/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Hualien, Taiwan – April 3: Firefighters search a building for rescue operations (Photo credit: Hualien County Fire Department/Anadolu via Getty Images)
