On Wednesday, Taiwan was struck by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake, marking the first such event in 25 years. Tragically, the quake claimed the lives of at least four individuals, with numerous others left injured and affected by the devastation it caused.
The earthquake not only inflicted damage within Taiwan itself but also triggered tsunami warnings in neighboring Japan and the Philippines, prompting evacuations as a precautionary measure.
According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the earthquake struck just before 8 a.m. local time, with its epicenter situated approximately 11 miles south of the coastal city of Hualien, about 96 miles southeast of Taipei.
Remarkably, despite the severity of the earthquake, Taiwan demonstrated considerable preparedness. Even the two buildings most heavily affected managed to remain largely intact, enabling residents to escape to safety by climbing out of upper-story windows.
One notable structure, the rounded red brick Uranus Building, which had leaned precariously following the collapse of its lower floors, attracted numerous curious onlookers. Its survival stands as a testament to Taiwan’s proactive approach to disaster preparedness, evident in advancements in building codes, heightened public awareness, and the presence of highly trained search-and-rescue teams. These factors, perhaps coupled with a stroke of luck, contributed to the relatively low casualty count.
Taiwan was struck by its strongest earthquake in 25 years few minutes ago when a 7.4 magnitude tremor struck the island’s eastern coast, prompting tsunami warnings across the region.
A rooftop swimming pool during the Taiwan earthquake.pic.twitter.com/mepqSLuCIM
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) April 3, 2024
As of Thursday, the death toll had risen to 10, with over 1,000 individuals sustaining injuries and several dozen still reported missing. Additionally, more than 87,000 households in Taiwan remained without power. In response, President Tsai Ing-wen announced the deployment of military resources to aid ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
