The most powerful earthquake to hit Taiwan in 25 years killed at least nine people and injured more than 1,000 others on Wednesday, the Taiwanese government said.
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck just before 8 a.m. local time, with its epicenter near the east coast city of Hualien. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 100 aftershocks have occurred on the island, including one with an initial magnitude of 6.5, which also occurred near Hualien.
This photo taken by Taiwan’s Central News Agency on April 3, 2024 shows emergency workers assisting a survivor after he is rescued from a damaged building in New Taipei City following a major earthquake that struck east of Taiwan .
CNA/AFP via Getty Images
All nine deaths occurred in Hualien, according to Taiwan’s national fire agency and EMIC in Taipei. Another 143 people are believed to be trapped either under debris or elsewhere.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, those trapped include at least 71 miners in two separate rock mines in cement factory areas. Of those trapped, 64 were trapped in the Heping mine and seven miners were trapped in the Zhonghe mine Heren mining area.
Officials said several tourists and staff were also stranded in Taroko National Park in Hualien, including 47 staff at the Silk Place Taroko Hotel and 24 tourists at the Jiuku Cave tourist area.
This handout photo, taken and released by the Fire Bureau of the Taichung City Government on April 3, 2024, shows rocks blocking a portion of the road on a section of a highway in Taichung after a major earthquake in the east of Taiwan Shows happened.
Taichung Fire Bureau/AFP via Getty Images
The number of injured increased throughout the day as officials gathered information about the destruction.
At noon, emergency personnel said 57 people were reported injured across the island. By 2 p.m., the number of injured had reached 711, emergency officials said. When officials issued their update at 4:30 p.m., the toll had risen to 821, and by 6 p.m. the number of injured had again risen to 934, officials said.
The total number of injured in the country rose to 1,011 in the last update on Wednesday night.
Officials said at least 317 of the injured were in Taipei and New Taipei City, about 80 to 100 miles from the epicenter.
This photo taken by Taiwan’s Central News Agency on April 3, 2024 shows a barricade set up around debris at the complex of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei after a major earthquake struck in the east of Taiwan.
CNA/AFP via Getty Images
A five-story house and another building collapsed in Hualien. A seven-decade-old low-rise building in Keelung and at least one other building in Taipei were said to have collapsed.
Other reported damage included nine sections of local highways and 11 roads with fallen rocks or broken pavement.
This photo taken by Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) on April 3, 2024 shows damage to buildings in the Xindian district of New Taipei City after a major earthquake struck in the east of Taiwan.
CNA/AFP via Getty Images
The metro system and high-speed rail were suspended. According to the Taiwanese Highway Bureau, highways in northern Yiland and eastern Hualien were closed as a precaution.
Three small tsunamis were reported on islands between the main island of Japan and Taiwan. However, all tsunami warnings in Japan have expired.
In this photo released by the National Fire Agency, members of a search and rescue team prepare outside a leaning building after an earthquake in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
National Fire Agency via AP
USGS officials said in a summary of the event that six other earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater have occurred in the region in the past 50 years.
“The largest of these was the M 7.7 earthquake (Chi-Chi earthquake) in September 1999, which resulted in at least 2,297 deaths, an estimated $14 billion in damage, and occurred 59 km east of the April 2, 2024 event, ” the USGS said.
