TAIPEI, TAIWAN – A powerful earthquake struck the entire island of Taiwan early Wednesday, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The quake, with a magnitude of 7.2 according to Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency and 7.4 according to the U.S. Geological Survey, rocked the region at 7:58 a.m. local time, causing buildings to collapse and sending tremors as far as the neighboring island of Kinmen.
The impact was particularly severe in the southern city of Hualien, where a five-storey building succumbed to the force of the quake, its first floor collapsing and the rest tilting precariously at a 45-degree angle. Across the capital city of Taipei, tiles were dislodged from older structures, while newer office complexes also bore the brunt of the seismic activity.
Train services across the island, home to 23 million people, were immediately suspended, alongside subway operations in Taipei. However, the resilience of the Taiwanese was evident as life swiftly resumed its usual rhythm in the capital, with children attending school and commuters returning to their daily routines.
The earthquake’s reach extended beyond Taiwan’s borders, with Japan experiencing the impact in the form of a tsunami. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a 30-centimeter wave hitting the coast of Yonaguni island approximately 15 minutes after the initial tremor. Authorities in Japan’s Okinawa region mobilized aircraft to assess the tsunami’s effects and prepared shelters for potential evacuees.
Multiple aftershocks rattled Taipei in the aftermath, with one registering a magnitude of 6.5, according to the USGS. Fortunately, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center ruled out any threat to Hawaii or the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.
This earthquake is believed to be the most significant to strike Taiwan since the devastating tremor of 1999, which caused widespread damage. Taiwan, situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is no stranger to seismic activity, being part of a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
As the affected areas assess the extent of the damage and commence recovery efforts, the resilience and preparedness of both Taiwan and its neighboring countries are once again put to the test in the face of natural disasters.