A devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake, the most powerful to strike Taiwan in over two decades, resulted in one fatality and numerous injuries and triggered a tsunami warning for Japan.
Taiwan’s Fire Department reported a suspected fatality due to falling rocks in Hualien County, near the quake’s epicentre, with over 50 individuals sustaining injuries. The tremor also compromised the structural integrity of several buildings in Hualien, leaving residents trapped, though specific numbers remain unconfirmed.
Broadcasts depicted the severe tilting of buildings in Hualien, where the quake occurred offshore around 8 am local time, catching many during their morning routines. The Central Weather Administration of Taiwan located the quake’s depth at approximately 15.5km.
Following the earthquake, Japan’s meteorological authority observed minor tsunami waves in Okinawa, eventually downgrading the initial tsunami warning to an advisory and measuring the quake at a magnitude of 7.7.
The Philippines’ Seismology Agency advised coastal evacuations for various provinces. Taiwan also issued a tsunami warning but later confirmed no subsequent damage, aligning with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center’s statement that significant tsunami threats had subsided.
Taipei and surrounding areas felt aftershocks, with Taiwan’s weather agency registering over 25 to date. As witnesses and state media reported, the earthquake’s effects extended to China’s Fujian province and Shanghai.
Taipei’s city government reported no significant damage and normal operations resumed swiftly for the city’s MRT system. Taipower noted that power outages affected over 87,000 households across Taiwan.
Taiwan’s high-speed rail encountered no damage or injuries, though inspections prompted train delays. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. took precautionary evacuations in some plants, confirming that safety systems functioned as intended.
The quake impacted Taiwan’s stock market, with notable declines in shares of TSMC, Foxconn, and Au Optronics early in trading.
According to the Central News Agency, this earthquake was the most significant since a 7.6 magnitude event in 1999, which resulted in approximately 2,400 deaths and widespread structural damage. The Central Weather Administration rated the quake’s intensity as “Upper 6” in Hualien County, indicating severe impacts on infrastructure and personal safety.
