Tsunami warning after strong earthquake – several buildings are said to have collapsed in Taiwan – NRK Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

There are reports from Taiwan that several buildings have collapsed in the city of Hualien, in the east of the country.

The news agency Reuters writes that several people are trapped inside a building that has collapsed.

In the capital Tapei, several areas are without electricity.

The director of the seismological center in Tapei says that the spoon river is the most powerful in Taiwan in 25 years.

– The earthquake is very close to land and it was very shallow. It could be felt all over Taiwan. It is the strongest since the 1999 quake, Wu Chien told reporters.

In September 1999, 2,400 people lost their lives when a magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit Taiwan, writes AFP.

Tsunami warning in several countries

Tsunami warnings have been sent out in several countries after an earthquake measuring 7.4 southwest of Japan on the night of Wednesday Norwegian time.

According to broadcaster NHK, the tsunami is expected to reach the coast of Okinawa at 10:00 local time – which corresponds to 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday Norwegian time.

An evacuation order has been issued for the coastal areas. According to the broadcaster, it has already reached the island of Yonaguni.

According to Japanese meteorological authorities, the quake is very shallow.

In addition to Japan and Taiwan, the Philippines has also issued a tsunami warning.

According to the country’s seismological centre, coastal areas facing the Pacific Ocean can experience “high tsunami waves”.