The strongest earthquake to hit Taiwan in 25 years rocked the island during the morning rush hour Wednesday, killing nine people, trapping dozens in quarries, and sending some residents scrambling out of windows from damaged buildings. A tsunami warning was triggered but later lifted.
The quake, which also injured hundreds, was centered off the coast of rural, mountainous Hualien County, where some buildings leaned at severe angles, their ground floors crushed.
Shocking videos quickly emerged from the island nation on social media. Take a look —
🚨#BREAKING: Multiple buildings have collapsed after a Pair of Massive 7.5 Earthquakes Strikes Triggering Tsunami Warnings
Currently, a pair of powerful, massive earthquakes has just occurred. The first one measured a magnitude of 7.5, followed by a 7.4… pic.twitter.com/XCKd7ocjel
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) April 3, 2024
🚨#UPDATE: More video is emerging from Hualien Liyu Lake in Taiwan, shows violent shaking as live webcams capture the moment when the 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes, followed by aftershocks measuring 7.4 and 6.5. pic.twitter.com/fmV8RFfpWh
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) April 3, 2024
In the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and schools evacuated students to sports fields, equipping them with yellow safety helmets. Some children covered themselves with textbooks to guard against falling debris as aftershocks continued.
Pictures showed neighbors and rescue workers to help each other. One picture showed locals lifting a toddler through a window onto the street from a building that was in danger of collapse. All appeared mobile, in shock but without serious injuries.
While Taiwan is accustomed to earthquakes and its population well-prepared, authorities said they had expected a relatively mild quake and did not send alerts.
The eventual 7.2-7.4 magnitude tremor proved strong enough to cause serious damage and terrify even those used to such seismic events.
“I’ve grown accustomed to (earthquakes). But today was the first time I was scared to tears by an earthquake,” said Hsien-hsuen Keng, a Taipei resident. “I was awakened by the earthquake. I had never felt such intense shaking before.”
The nine fatalities included three hikers killed by rockslides in Taroko National Park in Hualien, and a van driver struck by boulders in the same area, according to reports. Over 900 others were injured across the island of 23 million.
Dozens more remained trapped in rock quarries near the quake’s epicenter around 11 miles off Hualien’s coast at a depth of 21 miles. The temblor severed communication lines, leaving 50 people in minibuses unaccounted for inside the national park.
Beyond the deaths and missing, the earthquake caused 24 landslides and damage to 35 roads, bridges and tunnels, bringing traffic along the east coast to a virtual standstill. Rail service was suspended island-wide, with some tracks buckled, and Taipei’s metro saw sections of new elevated lines split apart, though not collapse.
The shaking could be felt over 100 miles away in parts of mainland China. Off Taiwan’s southern shores, a roughly 1-foot tsunami wave was detected before authorities lifted alerts.
As a seismic hotspot along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, Taiwan boasts among the most advanced earthquake preparedness programs globally, featuring drills, emergency notices, and strict building codes. By noon, normal commuter routines had largely resumed in areas like Taipei’s Beitou suburb.
However, the economic toll remained unclear. Taiwan is a leading manufacturer of semiconductors and other sensitive tech components reliant on precision manufacturing easily disrupted by seismic events. Some chip factories had to evacuate temporarily.
The harrowing quake conjured memories of Taiwan’s devastating 1999 tremor that killed over 2,400 and brought down thousands of buildings. For now, rescue efforts continue as the island showcases its resiliency in the face of one of its strongest earthquake tests in decades.
The Horn editorial team