Earthquake hits eastern Taiwan, major cities affected

An earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck off the coast of Hualien, Taiwan, at 7:58 AM on Wednesday (3 Apr), causing widespread tremors felt across the island.

The Central Weather Bureau reported that the quake had a depth of 15.5 kilometers and was centered approximately 25.0 kilometers south-southeast of the Hualien County government.

The tremors were felt strongly in Hualien County with an intensity of 6 on the Richter scale, indicating very strong shaking.

The earthquake’s effects were not confined to the epicenter, with reports of noticeable shaking in multiple cities including Taipei, Keelung, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung.

The Central Weather Bureau has estimated these areas to have experienced an intensity of level 3 or above, on a scale where higher numbers indicate stronger tremors.

In response to the earthquake and ongoing aftershocks, rail services, high-speed rail, and metro train services in both Kaohsiung and Taipei have been temporarily halted.

The suspension comes as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers and to assess the infrastructure for any potential damage caused by the quake.

A five-story building on Beibin Street in the Hualien city area has suffered structural damage due to the earthquake. The beams and columns on the first floor have fractured, causing the entire building to lean. It is currently uncertain whether there are any individuals trapped or injured inside.

A tsunami warning, indicating the possibility of waves up to 3 meters, was issued for Okinawa on Wednesday morning after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Taiwan, according to the Meteorological Agency. Officials have urged residents in affected areas to immediately evacuate to higher ground.