Tsunami warning after earthquake with magnitude 7.5

Collapsed buildings in Hualien, Taiwan after earthquake – people are supposed to be confined. One death and over 50 injuries are reported.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 has been recorded off the coast of Taiwan, towards Japan. Japan’s Meteorological Institute initially reported that Wednesday’s quake had a magnitude of 7.5, but this was later revised upwards. Taiwan’s meteorological authorities put the strength at 7.2.

Buildings are reported to have collapsed in the city of Hualien on the east coast of Taiwan after an earthquake. The country’s media reports on people being locked up. According to state media, the earthquake is the strongest to hit the country in 25 years.

According to the news agency Reuters, witnesses report that the strong tremor was noticeable in Taiwan’s capital Taipei, where the power is out in several areas.

Tsunami warning

A tsunami of up to three meters was expected to reach the island of Okinawa in Japan. However, the warning was downgraded somewhat later by the Japan Meteorological Institute, which said the waves could reach a height of one meter. At 11 a.m. local time, the warning was lifted.

The American Pacific Tsunami Warning Center announced just after 4 o’clock on Wednesday night Norwegian time that the danger was largely over.

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

Chinese authorities report that the quake was felt in Fujian province and in Shanghai.