In a seismic event of significant magnitude, Taiwan was rocked by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale early Wednesday morning. The temblor, the strongest to hit Taiwan in 25 years, struck at approximately 7:58 am local time, with its epicenter located about 18 km south-southwest of Hualien. The earthquake's impact was not confined to Taiwan alone, as it triggered a tsunami alert in Japan's Yonaguni Island.
The aftermath of the quake was immediately felt in Taiwan's Hualien city, where buildings were toppled, and train services were suspended across the country. The earthquake monitoring agencies provided varying readings of the quake's magnitude, with the US Geological Survey (USGS) recording it at 7.4, while Taiwan's agency reported it as 7.2 on the Richter scale.
A five-storey building in Hualien suffered partial collapse, leaving it tilted at a precarious 45-degree angle, as captured in videos circulating on social media. Train services were disrupted, and reports emerged from Taipei of tiles falling from buildings. Although damage was evident, no immediate reports of injuries or casualties were reported.
In Japan, a tsunami wave measuring approximately 1 foot was detected on Yonaguni Island about 15 minutes after the earthquake struck Taiwan. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning for the coastal areas of Okinawa prefecture, initially predicting waves of up to 3 meters. However, the warning was later downgraded to an advisory. Japan's Self-Defense Force mobilized aircraft to monitor the situation and prepare evacuation shelters in anticipation of the potential impact.