At least 62 people were injured when a powerful preliminary magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Taiwan Wednesday, the Taiwanese government said.
The earthquake hit just before 8:00 a.m. local time, with an epicenter near Hualien City.
A five-story house and another building in Hualien, Taiwan, collapsed because of the earthquake. A seven-decade-old low-rise house in Keelung, Taiwan, and at least one other building in Taipei was said to have falling debris.
Other reported damage included nine sections of local highways and 11 roads with falling stones or cracked pavements.
A view of a damaged apartment following an earthquake offshore, in New Taipei City, Taiwan April 3, 2024. (REUTERS/Fabian Hamacher)
Fabian Hamacher/Reuters
The metro system and high-speed rail were suspended. Additionally, the highways in northern Yiland and eastern Hualien were shut off as a precautionary measure, according to the Taiwanese Highway Bureau.
There have been three small tsunamis reported on islands between Japan’s main island and Taiwan. All Tsunami warnings in Japan, though, have ended.
The intial quake was followed by a preliminary magnitude 6.5 aftershock, also near Hualien City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The first quake was the largest one in Taiwan in a quarter century.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.