At least 62 injured after 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes Taiwan

At least 62 people were injured when a powerful preliminary magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Taiwan Wednesday, just before 8:00 am 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 were said to have falling debris.

Other reported damage included nine sections of local highways and 11 roads with falling stones or cracked pavements.

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.

The initial quake was followed by a preliminary magnitude 6.5 aftershock, also near Hualien City, according to the US Geological Survey. The first earthquake was the largest one in Taiwan in a quarter of a century.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.