At least nine people died this Wednesday and 934 were injured in Taiwan, according to a new assessment, made by the National Fire Agency, in the earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale that shook the island’s coast. It is assumed that there are still several dozen people trapped in the rubble of the collapsed buildings, with authorities mounting a rescue operation.
The earthquake occurred at 9 am (1 am in Lisbon), with the epicenter located near Hualien, at a depth of 15.5 kilometers, according to the China Seismological Center. All warnings have now been removed tsunami issued in Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
According to Taiwan’s National Fire Agency, more than 100 people are trapped in tunnels and at least 64 in a quarry.
Firefighters mount rescue and rescue operation Taiwan National Fire Fighting Agency
The Beijing Government, the Prime Minister of Japan, the United States and Charle Michel, President of the European Council, have already declared their support for Taiwan.
The first shock was followed by an aftershock of magnitude 6.2 on the Richter scale, according to the United States Geological Survey, which reports 29 other occurrences of magnitude greater than 4.0. The earthquake caused considerable material damage, especially in Hualien, a city with around 100,000 inhabitants, where at least two residential buildings partially collapsed, leaving people trapped inside.
Taiwanese authorities said that 308,242 homes were left without electricity, although the supply has already been restored to around 70% of homes. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan declared the disaster response center level two in Taiwan’s capital and asked citizens to be careful and watch out for possible new aftershocks.
Taiwan’s Nuclear Safety Commission said the island’s nuclear facilities were not damaged. The earthquake was “the strongest in 25 years” on the island, said the director of the Taiwan Seismological Center, Wu Chien-fu. In September 1999, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake killed 2,400 people in Taiwan.
In Japan, authorities had asked almost 500,000 people on the islands of Okinawa, Miyakojima and Yaeyama, in the south of the country, to abandon their homes and seek refuge in higher ground.
The alert tsunami It also led to the suspension of all flights to and from Naha Airport, on the main island of Okinawa, while passengers at the airport were taken to the upper floors due to the proximity to the coast.
Taiwan is located on the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity that stretches from Japan to the Pacific, through South Asia.
International community offers help to Taiwan
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian, quoted by the CNN, guarantees that Beijing is available to “provide assistance in the event of a catastrophe”. Fenglian added that “relevant parties in mainland China are very concerned and express their sincere condolences to the Taiwanese compatriots affected by the disaster.”
The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumiu Kishida, declared, through a publication on the social network X, that the country “is ready to provide all necessary assistance to Taiwan”.
We are deeply grateful. Japan stands ready to provide necessary assistance to Taiwan, our maritime neighbor, in times of hardship.
— Fumio Kishida (@kishida230) April 3, 2024
The spokesman for the United States Security Council, according to the The Guardianstated that the country is available to help.
Charles Michel, president of the European Council, also used social media to offer condolences to the families of the victims and guarantee that the European Union “is ready to provide all necessary assistance”.
My heartfelt support goes out to all those affected by the earthquake in #Taiwan.
And my condolences to the families of the victims.The EU stands ready to provide any assistance needed.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) April 3, 2024
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already thanked the support offered by “friends and allies in times of adversity”.
We appreciate the worldwide good wishes & prayers issued in the wake of the 7.2 earthquake & ongoing aftershocks. Support from allies & friends in moments of adversity touches our hearts & strengthens our resolve—#Taiwan���� stands strong as an #IslandOfResilience.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) ���� (@MOFA_Taiwan) April 3, 2024
Text updated at 5:47 pm: updated number of deaths and injuries