Taiwan experienced a devastating blow as a powerful earthquake, measuring 7.2 magnitude, struck the island on Wednesday morning, marking the strongest tremor to hit in a quarter of a century. The quake, with a depth of 15.5km, wreaked havoc primarily in the mountainous eastern county of Hualien, claiming the lives of four individuals and leaving over 50 injured. At least 26 buildings have collapsed, with more than 20 individuals trapped beneath the rubble, as rescue efforts continue amidst the chaos.
Witnesses described the terror of the quake, recounting how buildings swayed precariously and the ground shook violently as the disaster unfolded. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration issued a tsunami warning, prompting fears across southern Japan and the Philippines, although the warning was later lifted without causing significant damage.
The aftermath of the quake rippled through neighboring regions, with Japan’s weather agency reporting small tsunami waves in Okinawa and China’s Fujian province feeling the tremors. Aftershocks continued to jolt Taipei and surrounding areas, intensifying the sense of unease.
Despite the widespread destruction, Taiwan’s infrastructure largely withstood the impact, with the city’s MRT quickly resuming operations and no major damage reported by the Taipei city government. However, over 87,000 households remained without power, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by residents in the quake’s aftermath.
The seismic event also disrupted operations for major companies, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which evacuated some facilities as a precautionary measure. The stock market reacted swiftly to the news, with shares of TSMC and other tech giants experiencing a decline in early trading.
This earthquake serves as a grim reminder of Taiwan’s vulnerability to seismic activity, with experts drawing parallels to the devastating quake of 1999, which claimed thousands of lives and caused extensive damage. As the nation grapples with the aftermath, attention turns to bolstering infrastructure and emergency preparedness to mitigate the impact of future disasters.
