A strong 7.4 magnitude earthquake that rocked Taiwan through the morning commute on Wednesday was the strongest quake to hit the island in 25 years.
It initially triggered forecasts of tsunami waves in China, Japan and the Philippines, however these warnings have been later canceled. There have been greater than 100 aftershocks and extra have been anticipated over the subsequent three to 4 days.
Right here’s what we all know in regards to the earthquake and its aftermath.
What’s the dying toll?
The earthquake killed not less than 9 folks and injured greater than 800 others. One other 127 folks have been trapped, Taiwan’s fireplace division stated Wednesday afternoon.
Among the many lifeless have been two hikers who have been hit by falling rocks on a path in Taroko Nationwide Park, in keeping with the state-owned Central Information Company.
What components of Taiwan have been affected?
The heaviest injury was in Hualien County on the east coast close to the epicenter, which was about 11 miles south of the town of Hualien, the county seat. However the quake was felt all through Taiwan.
Buildings shook for greater than a minute within the capital, Taipei. Rail companies have been halted throughout the island. Airways canceled or delayed dozens of flights. Greater than 360,000 households misplaced energy at one level on Wednesday, in keeping with Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Heart.
What was broken?
The worst injury was within the metropolis of Hualien, the place a number of buildings have been tilted over with their ground-floor ranges crushed. One of many buildings, a 10-story construction that housed a mixture of houses and retailers, was one of many facilities of the rescue efforts.
All through Taiwan, the quake and its aftershocks prompted 15 buildings to break down partially and broken 67 others. One constructing in Changhua County, on the west coast, collapsed fully, in keeping with Taiwan’s fireplace division.
The quake additionally set off not less than 9 landslides on a serious freeway in Hualien, in keeping with Taiwan’s Central Information Company, which stated a part of the highway had collapsed.
How ready was Taiwan?
Taiwan has improved its stage of preparation over many years of experiencing damaging earthquakes. It has refined its early warning system for the reason that Eighties. It additionally up to date its constructing codes in 2022, requiring homeowners of susceptible buildings to put in reinforcements.
Taiwan established an city search-and-rescue crew and opened a number of emergency medical operation facilities after an earthquake in central Taiwan killed practically 2,500 folks in 1999. The federal government additionally ordered a wave of constructing inspections in 2018 after 17 folks died in a quake in Hualien.
Why has Taiwan had so many earthquakes?
Many lethal earthquakes have struck Taiwan up to now century. The island sits on a number of energetic faults, that are related to seismic exercise. It’s close to the Pacific “Ring of Fireplace,” an space the U.S. Geological Survey says is probably the most seismically and volcanically energetic zone on the planet.
