Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century damaged buildings and left at least four people dead. Damage was reported around the island but tsunami threats in Taiwan and Japan have been lifted. Taiwan authorities said four people died in Hualien County near the epicenter. A five-story building in Hualien appeared heavily damaged and residents were helped out of windows. Scattered minor damage was apparent in Taipei, the capital. Landslides and debris closed highways on the east coast. Schools evacuated students to sports fields, and train service was suspended. Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency gave the magnitude as 7.2 while the U.S. put it at 7.4. Japan said a tsunami of about a foot was measured on one island.
Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century damaged buildings and left at least four people dead. Damage was reported around the island but tsunami threats in Taiwan and Japan have been lifted. Taiwan authorities said four people died in Hualien County near the epicenter. A five-story building in Hualien appeared heavily damaged and residents were helped out of windows. Scattered minor damage was apparent in Taipei, the capital. Landslides and debris closed highways on the east coast. Schools evacuated students to sports fields, and train service was suspended. Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency gave the magnitude as 7.2 while the U.S. put it at 7.4. Japan said a tsunami of about a foot was measured on one island.
The strongest earthquake in a quarter-century has rocked Taiwan during the morning rush hour. Wednesday's quake killed nine people, sent others scrambling out the windows of damaged buildings and halted train service throughout the island. A tsunami warning was triggered but later lifted. The quake was centered off the coast of rural, mountainous Hualien County. Just over 150 kilometers away in the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and schools evacuated their students to sports fields, equipping them with yellow safety helmets. Television images showed neighbors and rescue workers lifting residents, including a toddler, through windows and onto the street. Taiwan’s national fire agency said nine people died. Another 934 were injured.
Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century damaged buildings and left at least four people dead. Damage was reported around the island but tsunami threats in Taiwan and Japan have been lifted. Taiwan authorities said four people died in Hualien County near the epicenter. A five-story building in Hualien appeared heavily damaged and residents were helped out of windows. Scattered minor damage was apparent in Taipei, the capital. Landslides and debris closed highways on the east coast. Schools evacuated students to sports fields, and train service was suspended. Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency gave the magnitude as 7.2 while the U.S. put it at 7.4. Japan said a tsunami of about a foot was measured on one island.