Earthquake in Taiwan leaves at least nine dead and more than 800 injured

A strong earthquake reached Taiwan this Wednesday, 3, and left at least nine people dead and more than 800 injured. The 7.2 magnitude tremor is the biggest in the Asian country in 25 years. The information is from the news agency Reuters.

According to local authorities, the earthquake in Taiwan caused the collapse of at least 26 buildings and rescuers are working to rescue more than 70 people who were trapped in the rubble.

Images broadcast by a local television channel showed tilted buildings in mountainous, sparsely populated Hualien County, near the quake’s epicenter. In the capital Taipei, part of the city was left without power.

Tsunami risk

Because of earthquake, tsunami warnings were issued by authorities in Japan and the Philippines, which were lifted three hours later. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake in Taiwan was of magnitude 7.7. According to the United States Geological Survey, it was 7.4. The Taiwanese agency recorded a magnitude of 7.2.