There are reports from Taiwan that several buildings have collapsed in the city of Hualien, in the east of the country. The earthquake must have had a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale.
At least four people have died in the earthquake, Taiwanese authorities report.
The news agency Reuters writes that several people are trapped inside a building that has collapsed.
It was previously reported that a person is probably dead after being hit by a boulder on a hiking trail.
More than 50 are injured, Taiwan’s fire service reports, according to Reuters.
In the capital Tapei, several areas are without electricity.
Taiwanese computer chip maker TSMC says all its employees are safe and that evacuees are returning to work.
TSMC has been called “the world’s most important company” because the world depends on the firm’s semiconductors.
It was initially reported that the quake had a magnitude of 7.7, but it was later downgraded to 7.4.
Most powerful in 25 years
The director of the seismological center in Tapei said earlier today that the earthquake was the most powerful in Taiwan in 25 years, but the strength has since been slightly downgraded.
– 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.
This map from the American Earthquake Center USGS shows the strength of the tremors in Taiwan.
Photo: USGS
Tsunami warning cancelled
Tsunami warnings were sent out in several countries after an earthquake measuring up to 7.7 southwest of Japan on the night of Wednesday Norwegian time. According to Japanese meteorological authorities, the quake is very shallow.
According to broadcaster NHK, a tsunami was expected on the coast of Okinawa at 10:00 local time – which corresponded to 3:00 a.m. Wednesday Norwegian time.
An evacuation order was issued for the coastal areas.
The warning was canceled at 4 a.m. by The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
Several buildings have suffered major damage after the earthquake.
Photo: CNA/AFP
But according to the Japanese broadcaster, a tsunami reached the island of Yonaguni, but then with waves of a modest 0.3 meters.
In addition to Japan and Taiwan, the Philippines also issued a tsunami warning.
According to the country’s seismological centre, coastal areas towards the Pacific Ocean could experience “high tsunami waves”.
You need javascript to play the audio clip “The dangerous escape from North Korea”.
Tags: buildings collapsed Taiwan strong earthquake NRK Urix Foreign news documentaries
-
