Terrifying images of the devastating earthquake in Taiwan - more 700 people injured

8 months ago
30

A major earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck the central east coast of Taiwan, roughly 20 kilometres south of the city of Hualien.
Locals near the epicentre described severe to violent ground shaking during the quake – strong enough to make standing and driving a vehicle difficult. It was reportedly felt across the country, as well as in neighbouring China.
At least four people have died and dozens more were injured due to the quake, officials said. Taiwan's government said that 711 people had been injured in earthquake, and that 77 people were trapped.
Strong shaking was felt in Taipei, the capital, some 100 miles away, with aftershocks continued for roughly two hours. And there were reports in China that people as far away as Shanghai, about 500 miles to the north, could feel the earthquake.
While much of Taiwan’s population lives on the west coast of the country, Hualien City is one of the largest population centres on the east coast. Its population is roughly 100,000. Landslides also occurred along the mountainous central east coast. Authorities in Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines issued tsunami warnings, which were later lifted.
The quake had a depth of 9.6 miles, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Administration. Taiwan's two nuclear power stations were not affected by the temblor. Taiwan's official Central News Agency said the quake was the biggest to hit the island since 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude tremor killed around 2,400 people and destroyed or damaged 50,000 buildings in one of Taiwan's worst-recorded quakes.

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