Taiwan- Early on Wednesday, Taiwan experienced a significant earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4, leading to tsunami alerts not only for the island but also for certain areas in southern Japan and the Philippines. The tremor occurred just shy of 8:00 am local time, with its center located approximately 18 kilometers south of Hualien City, at a depth of nearly 35 km, as reported by the USGS.
Tsunami warnings were issued by Japan's Meteorological Agency, predicting waves up to three meters high for some remote Japanese islands, including Miyakojima. Taiwanese officials also sent out text message alerts, urging those near the coast to exercise caution and prepare for potential wave surges.
The quake was strong enough to be felt throughout Taiwan, from Pingtung county in the south to Taipei in the north. A significant aftershock, a 6.5-magnitude quake near Hualien, was also felt in the capital city.
Taipei's metro service was temporarily halted but resumed shortly after. Local authorities advised residents to inspect their homes for gas leaks.
One hotel guest in downtown Taipei, Kelvin Hwang, expressed his alarm, noting the quake's intensity even from the ninth floor.
According to Wu Chien-fu, director of the Seismology Center at Taipei's Central Weather Administration, this earthquake is the most powerful one to hit the island in decades, with its impact felt across Taiwan and nearby islands. He recalled the 1999 earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.6 and was the deadliest natural disaster in Taiwan's history, claiming about 2,400 lives.
Wu also cautioned that there might be more quakes, potentially ranging from 6.5 to 7 in magnitude, in the coming days, and these could occur closer to land.
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