TAIPEI, Taiwan – At least nine people were killed and more than 900 were injured when Taiwan was rocked by its biggest earthquake in nearly 25 years, which forced people to flee crumbling buildings and prompted officials to issue Tsunami Warnings that spanned the western Pacific Ocean.
Dramatic images and videos captured the moment the magnitude 7.4 earthquake began just before 8 a.m. local time (just before 8 p.m. EDT) about 11 miles to the south-southwest of Hualien City, as well as the aftermath that showed buildings leaning at precarious angles, debris littering the streets and large boulders that came crashing down mountains.
At least nine people were killed and more than 900 were injured when Taiwan was rocked by its biggest earthquake in nearly 25 years, which forced people to flee crumbling buildings and prompted officials to issue Tsunami Warnings that spanned the western Pacific Ocean.
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Will China somehow get blamed?
Well, no country has the technology to cause a magnitude 7.4 quake, so China will probably not be blamed for the earthquake in Taiwan. My thoughts, prayers and condolences to the lives lost during this disaster.
For those who want to learn more about this disaster, here is an
AP News article discussing the quake, and a summary below for those who ran out of free articles, cos of the paywall:
On April 3, 2024, Taiwan experienced its strongest earthquake in a quarter-century, resulting in nine fatalities and over 1,000 injuries. The epicenter of the 7.2-magnitude quake was located off the coast of Hualien County in rural, mountainous areas. Hualien was previously struck by a deadly quake in 2018 that killed 17 people and brought down a historic hotel.
The earthquake, which occurred during rush hour, caused significant damage to buildings in Hualien County, with some leaning at severe angles and their ground floors crushed. In the capital city of Taipei, just over 150 kilometers away, older buildings sustained damage and tiles fell. Schools evacuated students to sports fields as aftershocks rattled the island nation.
Rescuers searched for people trapped in damaged buildings and used excavators to stabilize them. Some 70 workers were stranded at two rock quarries but were all safe, and six were to be airlifted the following day. Neighbors and rescue workers helped lift residents through windows and onto the streets, while some doors had fused shut in the shaking.
At least 50 hotel employees were initially reported missing after the quake downed phone networks, but three of them eventually walked to the hotel, leaving about two dozen tourists still stranded. The quake and aftershocks caused many landslides and damaged roads, bridges, tunnels, and buildings, including the national legislature and sections of the main airport in Taoyuan.
The earthquake was felt in Shanghai and several provinces along China's southeastern coast, causing a tsunami warning that was later lifted. Taiwan lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," the line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world's earthquakes occur.
Despite being well-prepared for earthquakes, Taiwan's authorities did not send out alerts before the event due to expectations of a relatively mild quake. The initial panic quickly subsided as the island's population, which is used to seismic activity, followed drills and notices issued via public media and mobile phone.
The economic fallout from the earthquake has yet to be calculated, with Taiwan being the leading manufacturer of advanced computer chips and high-technology items that are sensitive to seismic events. Parts of the electricity grid were shut down, potentially resulting in disruptions in the supply chain and financial losses.
TSMC, a major Taiwanese chipmaker that supplies semiconductors to companies such as Apple, evacuated employees from some of its factories in Hsinchu. Water and electricity supplies for the city's science park were functioning normally. The Taiwan stock exchange opened as usual, with the index fluctuating between losses and gains.
