On Wednesday, April 3 2024, a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan’s east coast, marking the strongest tremor to hit the island in at least 25 years as per seismological officials.
Taiwan Shaken with 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake
The epicenter of the quake was approximately 18km (11 miles) south of Hualien city, as reported by the US Geological Survey and triggered tsunami warnings across the island and neighboring countries.
The seismic event resulted in one reported fatality, dozens of injuries, and prompted a tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines, which was subsequently lifted.
Damages: Life, Nature and Property & Rescue
According to Taiwan’s fire department, one individual is believed to have been killed by falling rocks in the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien, where the epicenter was located. More than 50 people sustained injuries in the region.
The temblor resulted in multiple buildings collapsing, with some structures leaning at precarious angles.
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At least 26 buildings, over half of which were in Hualien, collapsed due to the quake, leaving approximately 20 individuals trapped. Rescue efforts are currently underway.
Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC has evacuated some of its factories located in Hsinchu and southern Taiwan to ensure the safety of its staff.
However, TSMC reassured that its safety systems are functioning normally. TSMC is a significant manufacturer of semiconductors, catering to tech companies such as Apple and Nvidia.
Landslides and Turmoil
The earthquake has triggered landslides in Taiwan’s mountainous interior, with videos on social media depicting the aftermath of massive landslides. In the capital Taipei, footage captured buildings violently shaking, causing objects to fly off shelves and furniture to topple.
Reports from the mountainous regions show collapsed residential buildings, prompting evacuations from homes and schools.
Additionally, local media outlets have aired clips showing the impact of the earthquake, including smashed vehicles and stores in disarray as items were thrown about.
The earthquake has led to power cuts and internet outages across the island, as reported by the internet monitoring group NetBlocks.
Occurring at 07:58 local time (23:58 GMT), coinciding with the morning commute and school hours, the earthquake, at a depth of 15.5km, has generated at least 9 aftershocks with magnitudes of 4 or higher.
Neighbours Warned
In neighboring Japan, authorities issued warnings of tsunami waves reaching up to 3m, anticipated to impact significant areas along its southwestern coast.
The Japan Meteorological Agency subsequently downgraded the warning, but has advised residents to stay alert for aftershocks of similar intensity for approximately a week.
Similarly, the Philippines’ seismology agency promptly issued a tsunami warning following the earthquake, urging residents to move to higher ground.
Approximately two hours after the quake struck, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed in an update that the tsunami threat “has now passed.”
Chinese state media reported that tremors were felt in parts of China’s southeastern Fujian province in the aftermath of the earthquake. Wu Chien Fu, the director of Taipei’s Seismology Centre, noted that the earthquake’s proximity to land and its shallow depth contributed to its widespread impact across Taiwan and offshore islands.
A Historical Shiver
The memory of Taiwan’s deadliest earthquake in recent history remains vivid. In September 1999, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan, claiming the lives of 2,400 people and causing the destruction of 5,000 buildings.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration rated the earthquake as the second-highest intensity, an “Upper 6,” in Hualien county on the 1-7 intensity scale.
In an “Upper 6” earthquake, most unreinforced concrete-block walls collapse, and individuals find it challenging to stand or move without crawling, as per the Japan Meteorological Agency.
