According to firefighters, around 77 people were under the rubble. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen called for the coordination of relief services across the country and called on the Armed Forces to support emergency work.
The magnitude of the underwater earthquake was estimated at 7.5 by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA); at 7.4 by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and at 7.2 by the Taiwan Meteorological Agency (CWA).
The tremor occurred shortly before 8 am local time, according to these agencies, and was followed by several aftershocks. Its epicenter was detected in shallow seas off the east coast of Taiwan.
At least 26 properties collapsed. Images released on local television showed other buildings about to collapse in Hualien.
“My house shook violently, the paintings on the wall, my television and my bar fell down,” a Hualien resident told SET TV.
Replicas
To date, 25 aftershocks have been recorded on the island, some felt in the capital Taipei. Meteorological agencies in Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines initially issued a tsunami warning, but the risk was later ruled out. China indicated that it had recorded tremors in the province of Fujian, in the southeast of the country, and stated that seismic activity was also felt in Shanghai, on the east coast of the country.
Tags: Magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan causing deaths leaving hundreds injured
