A strong earthquake kills at least four people in Taiwan. About 60 people were injured. The Wednesday morning earthquake also caused damage to a number of buildings.
An earthquake shook Taiwan shortly before 8:00 a.m. local time today. The epicenter was 18 km south of Hualien City. According to the USGS, the magnitude of the earthquake was 7.4. Tsunami warnings were issued for Taiwan, southern Japan, and the Philippines immediately after the earthquake. But later, it was withdrawn.
Officials said a group of seven climbers was traveling on the mountain in the city of Hualien this morning. During the earthquake, three of them were crushed by rocks that fell from the mountain, causing their deaths.
Also, during the earthquake in Hualien City, a truck driver lost his life in a landslide that occurred close to a tunnel.
The city of Hualien was between the locations at which footage from local television stations showed various high-rise buildings collapsing. A warehouse collapsed in New Taipei City.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen called on local and central government agencies to work together. He said Taiwan’s military is also assisting in rescue operations.
Taiwan’s National Fire Agency confirmed that four people died in the earthquake. About 60 people injured in the earthquake are being treated, they said.
The Taipei metro was temporarily shut down following the earthquake. But within an hour, it was back on.
It was the strongest earthquake in Taiwan in 25 years. Before that, in September 1999, an earthquake of magnitude 7.6 struck Taiwan. It killed approximately 2,400 people.
source: AFP Taipei
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