Dozens Trapped in Tunnels After Taiwan’s Strongest Earthquake in 25 Years, Resulting in at Least Nine Deaths
Rescue teams in Taiwan are urgently working to free dozens of individuals who are trapped in highway tunnels following the most powerful earthquake the country has experienced in 25 years. The earthquake, measuring 7.4 in magnitude, struck the east coast of the island near Hualien city. According to Taiwan’s National Fire Agency, at least nine people have been killed and over 900 injured.
The initial quake was followed by numerous aftershocks, with the most significant measuring over 6.0 in magnitude. Extensive damage, including collapsed buildings, power outages, and landslides, has been reported. Rescue operations are ongoing as many individuals remain trapped in tunnels and on trails. The Central Weather Administration has issued warnings of ongoing powerful aftershocks throughout the week. Witnesses described the shaking as exceedingly strong and terrifying. “It has been a significant amount of time since we have experienced an earthquake, so it felt truly frightening,” one individual stated in an interview with Taiwan Plus.
Initially, the earthquake prompted tsunami warnings in Taiwan, southern Japan, and the Philippines. However, waves measuring less than half a meter were observed along certain coastlines, and flights were halted by airlines. Subsequently, all tsunami warnings were lifted.
In response to the aftershocks and the impact of the quake, military personnel were dispatched in Taiwan for disaster relief, and schools and workplaces suspended operations, according to reports from the Defense Ministry.
Taiwan’s outgoing President, Tsai Ing-wen, took immediate action, instructing her administration to promptly assess the local impact of the situation. She also emphasized the necessity of providing necessary assistance and collaborating with local governments to minimize the effects of the disaster.
As an island situated to the east of mainland China, Taiwan is home to approximately 23 million people, with the majority residing in industrialized cities along the west coast, including the capital.
Due to its location within the Pacific Ring of Fire – a region known for significant seismic and volcanic activity spanning from Indonesia to Chile – Taiwan frequently experiences earthquakes. This recent quake is the most intense the country has endured since 1999, when a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred south of Taipei, resulting in the deaths of 2,400 people and injuring 10,000 others.
Hualien County, which includes parts of the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast of the island, is home to around 300,000 individuals. In 2018, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck near the area, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 people and injuring over 300 others.The assessment of the damage is still ongoing, and access to the epicenter in Hualien County is limited due to road and rail closures. According to the National Fire Agency, more than 100 buildings across the island have been damaged, with about half of them in Hualien County. Rescue operations are currently underway at the nine-story Uranus Building, where some residents are trapped. So far, 22 individuals have been successfully rescued.
In addition, over 91,000 households are facing power outages, according to Taiwan’s Central Emergency Command Center. The government-operated Taipower Company is actively working on restoring power.
Videos on social media show the collapse of buildings in Hualien, with residents helping trapped individuals escape through damaged windows of an apartment complex.
The earthquake occurred during the morning rush hour, causing highways to shake intensely, overpasses in Taipei to sway, and commuters in Taipei metro trains to struggle to maintain balance. CNN affiliate TVBS broadcasted footage of tremors rattling homes and businesses across the island, including power lines violently swaying above a street and chandeliers shaking in a restaurant.
TVBS also showed large boulders scattered along the eastern Suhua Highway, damaging several tunnels, with one split in half. SET News, another CNN affiliate, captured an image of a car crushed by fallen rocks.
Transport authorities have closed the highway due to nine rockfalls and landslides. Additionally, a highway connecting the west coast to eastern Taiwan has seen falling rocks, leading to injuries for nine individuals and damaging twelve cars, as reported by TVBS.
News Source-CNN