TAIPEI—Taiwan experienced a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake on April 3rd, the most intense tremor to hit the island in over 25 years. Four people died, and more than 700 were injured. The earthquake initially prompted a tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines, but it was lifted later.
The casualties occurred primarily in the mountainous and sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien, where the earthquake’s epicenter was. Among the deceased were three individuals from a group of seven individuals embarking on an early-morning hike through the surrounding hills. They were crushed to death by boulders that the tremor had dislodged. Additionally, a truck driver perished after being hit by a landslide while approaching a tunnel in the affected area.
The devastating earthquake caused the collapse of at least 26 buildings, with over half of them in Hualien. However, there were some instances of rescue and survival amid the destruction. In one of the most heavily damaged structures, the fire department successfully rescued 22 individuals, with only one remaining missing. Despite these relief efforts, the government reported that 77 individuals remained trapped within damaged buildings.
Television stations in Taiwan broadcasted footage of buildings standing at precarious angles in Hualien, where the earthquake struck just offshore around 8 am. Witnesses described the quake as incredibly strong, with some fearing that their homes would collapse under the force.
Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, experienced power outages in several areas due to the earthquake. The Central Weather Administration of Taiwan determined that the earthquake had a depth of 15.5km, making it the strongest tremor to hit the island in a quarter-century.
Videos revealed rescuers employing ladders to help people escape through windows while massive landslides caused by the earthquake carved down hillsides. Mr. Wu Chien-fu, the director of Taipei’s Central Weather Administration’s Seismology Centre, cautioned that authorities were not dismissing the possibility of earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.5 to 7 occurring within the next three days near the land.
Although the early warnings for a potential tsunami impact on southern Japan and the Philippines were later downgraded, Japan’s weather agency confirmed that several small tsunami waves reached parts of the southern prefecture of Okinawa. The US Geological Survey recorded the quake as a 7.4-magnitude event.
Services resumed at Okinawa’s main Naha airport after initial suspension in the aftermath of the earthquake. The Philippines Seismology Agency canceled the tsunami warning associated with the quake earlier issued for the country’s north. However, few people in the sparsely populated regions responded to the ordering alerts.
Taiwan issued its tsunami warning, reporting no damage from the potential tsunami. Subsequently, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii declared that the risk of damaging tsunami waves had largely subsided.
Despite the continuing aftershocks felt in Taipei, with over 50 aftershocks recorded by Taiwan’s central weather administration, the city government has not reported any damage. The city’s metro system promptly resumed operations after the earthquake. However, electricity operator Taipower revealed that over 87,000 households in Taiwan remained without power.
According to Taipower, Taiwanese nuclear power stations remained unaffected by the tremor. Furthermore, the high-speed rail operator in Taiwan confirmed that no injuries or damages were reported on its trains but warned of potential delays due to necessary inspections.
Residents in Taipei received warnings from their local borough chiefs to inspect their homes for any gas leaks. Semiconductor giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) reported evacuations of some fabrication plants, ensuring safety systems were operating according to protocols. In response to the situation, TSMC stated that they were verifying the impact of the evacuations and that personnel were beginning to return to the workplaces.
The earthquake had a limited impact on Taiwan’s benchmark share index, which experienced a 0.6% decline. Additionally, TSMC’s Taipei-listed shares ended down by 1.3%.
Taiwan’s official central news agency described this earthquake as the most severe since the 1999 quake, with a magnitude of 7.6, resulting in approximately 2,400 fatalities and the destruction or damage to 50,000 structures. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the recent earthquake in Hualien County registered as the second-highest intensity level of “Upper 6” on the 1-7 intensity scale. An Upper 6 earthquake signifies that most unreinforced concrete-block walls collapse, and individuals find it difficult to remain standing or move without crawling, as per the Japan Meteorological Agency.
