M7.5 quake hits off Taiwan, tsunami reaches southwest Japan isles

BREAKING NEWS: Taiwan says quake is its biggest since 1999 temblor

TOKYO – An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 struck off Taiwan on Wednesday, with a small tsunami reaching nearby southwestern Japanese islands.

The quake caused some buildings to collapse in Taiwan’s Hualien County, according to local media.

Small tsunami reached the islands of Yonaguni and Ishigaki in Okinawa Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological agency said, while warning of the possibility of larger tsunami of up to 3 meters.

The 8:58 am quake registered 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Yonaguni, said the agency.

Flights were suspended at Naha airport following the issuance of the tsunami warning, with passengers urged to move to higher floors of the terminal building, its operator said. The airport is located on the coast of the main island of the prefecture.

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