https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68719996
The epicenter, according to the US Geological Survey, was located about 18 km south of the city of Hualien. This is a sparsely populated mountainous region. Tremors were also felt in the capital, Taipei. Taiwan's National Fire Agency currently reports seven deaths and at least 711 injuries. Taiwanese media shows buildings collapsing and people evacuating from schools and homes.
At least 26 buildings collapsed, more than half of them in Hualien, authorities said. At least 77 people remain trapped, according to firefighters, and rescue efforts continue.
Taiwan's Emergency Operations Center has already recorded more than 100 aftershocks since the earthquake, which were also felt in Taipei. “It felt like the house was about to collapse,” said 60-year-old hospital worker in the capital, Chang Yu-Ling, as quoted by Reuters.
Following the earthquake, there were tsunami warnings on the island and in neighboring countries, some of which were soon withdrawn. The Japan Meteorological Agency said several small tsunami waves reached parts of southern Okinawa prefecture. The Philippine Seismological Agency issued a warning to residents of coastal areas, urging them to evacuate to higher ground. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said the risk of destructive waves had passed.
In the morning, tremors were felt across the island nation, as well as parts of mainland China and Japan. Chinese state media reported that the tremors were in Fujian province in the southeast of the country. “The earthquake began close to land, at shallow depths. It was felt throughout Taiwan and neighboring islands. It is the strongest in 25 years,” said Wu Chien Fu, head of the Taipei Seismology Center.
In September 1999, an earthquake of magnitude 7.6 hit Taiwan, which destroyed more than 5 thousand buildings and caused the death of more than 2.4 thousand people. Now the earthquake occurred at 07:58 am local time (23:58 GMT), the source was at a depth of 15.5 km. This was followed by at least nine aftershocks with a magnitude of 4 or higher.
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