Four Dead as Deadliest Earthquake Hits Taiwan in 25 Years

At least four people have died as a powerful earthquake struck off Taiwan's east coast, today.  

The 7.4 magnitude quake caused multiple buildings to collapse in Hualien, the city closest to the epicentre, where rescue efforts are taking place.

This earthquake has been described as the strongest tremor to hit the island in 25 years, as its impact was felt as far as Taiwan's mountainous interior, which was rocked by huge landslides.

Wu Chien Fu, the director of Taipei's Seismology Centre said that "the earthquake is close to land and it's shallow. It's felt all over Taiwan and offshore islands... It's the strongest in 25 years."  

The National Fire Agency also noted that three people lost their lives at a trail around Taroko National Park, named after a landmark gorge just outside Hualien.

More than 50 people have been injured, with some trapped in buildings and tunnels around the city, the agency added.

TSMC, a leading chipmaker in Taiwan, has relocated some of its factories in Hsinchu and southern regions as a precautionary measure, ensuring staff safety. Despite this, the company assures that its safety protocols remain intact. TSMC is a crucial supplier of semiconductors for tech giants such as Apple and Nvidia.

Earlier, an earthquake triggered tsunami alerts in Taiwan and neighboring areas.

In Taipei, local media footage depicts collapsed residential buildings and evacuations from homes and schools. The earthquake's impact is evident in damaged vehicles, as well as stores with items scattered, as shown in clips by TVBS.

Internet monitoring group NetBlocks also noted that there has been Power cuts and internet outages have been reported across the island.

Wednesday's earthquake hit at 07:58 local time (23:58 GMT) at a depth of 15.5km and has set off at least nine aftershocks at magnitude 4 or larger. The earthquake's epicentre is located about 18km (11 miles) south of Hualien, according to the US Geological Survey.

Hualien is located on Taiwan's east coast, in a sprawling, mountainous region. Cities in the area are sparsely populated. With major roads and rail lines connecting Hualien to the rest of Taiwan now down, rescue teams will likely have to enter the area by air.

In September 1999, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan, killing 2,400 people and destroying 5,000 buildings.

In Japan, authorities initially cautioned about potential tsunami waves reaching heights of up to 3 meters along the southwestern coast.

However, the Japan Meteorological Agency later revised the warning, urging residents to stay vigilant against aftershocks of similar intensity for approximately a week.

The Philippines' seismology agency also issued a tsunami alert shortly after the earthquake, prompting residents to evacuate to higher ground, but later canceled it.

According to an update from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center approximately two hours after the quake, the tsunami threat has now subsided.

Chinese state media reported tremors being felt in parts of southeastern Fujian province.

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