Taiwan Devastated: 9 Dead, Over 800 Injured After Strongest Earthquake In 25 Years
In Taipei, the most significant earthquake in Taiwan in over two decades claimed the lives of nine individuals on Wednesday.
Over 800 others suffered injuries, with 50 individuals reported missing while heading to a national park. Rescue operations employed ladders to evacuate individuals to safety amidst the devastation.
Television broadcasts captured unsettling scenes of buildings leaning precariously in the mountainous, scarcely inhabited eastern region of Hualien, close to the epicenter of the 7.2 magnitude tremor, which struck just offshore at around 8am local time.
Residents recounted the intensity of the quake, including Chang Yu-lin, a 60-year-old hospital worker in Taipei, describing the sensation as if their house might collapse.
A bed-and-breakfast proprietor in Hualien city shared her frantic efforts to reassure her guests amidst their fear induced by the seismic event. "This is the biggest earthquake I've ever experienced," she expressed, preferring to be identified only by her surname, Chan.
The quake occurred at a depth of 15.5 km (9.6 miles), coinciding with the morning commute as people were en route to work and school. It triggered a tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines, which was subsequently lifted.
The earthquake in Taiwan led to rescuers using ladders to extract trapped individuals, with significant landslides reported. Fire authorities evacuated those trapped in tunnels, but contact was lost with 50 travelers heading to Taroko Gorge. President-elect Lai Ching-te prioritized rescue efforts, aiming to reopen the rail link by Thursday.
Despite minor damages, Taiwan's air force and essential services remained operational.
The quake also affected Japan and the Philippines, prompting warnings of small tsunami waves. Aftershocks were felt in Taipei, while power restoration efforts were underway. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. evacuated facilities, but operations resumed with safety measures in place.
Despite its impact, the earthquake's magnitude was not as severe as previous disasters in 1999.
