TAINAN, Taiwan – A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 struck off Taiwan’s eastern coast on Wednesday, causing widespread panic and triggering tsunami warnings for both the island and southern Japan. The quake’s epicenter was located approximately 11 miles south of the city of Hualien, a popular tourist destination in Taiwan.
The Taiwan Central Weather Administration issued a tsunami warning shortly after the earthquake, notifying residents in the northern coastal area to evacuate to higher ground. Despite efforts to alert all residents, not everyone received the warning. In response, the Japan Meteorological Agency also issued a tsunami warning for the Miyakojima and Okinawa islands, with waves up to 3 meters expected to hit imminently.
Numerous aftershocks rattled Taiwan following the initial earthquake, with one aftershock registering a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale, according to reports from the US Geological Survey. Taiwan, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent seismic activity due to its location along the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
It is no stranger to earthquakes, as the island has a history of devastating seismic events. In 2018, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck near Hualien, claiming the lives of at least 17 individuals and injuring over 300 others. Additionally, in 1999, a major earthquake resulted in the tragic loss of 2,400 lives, making it the deadliest earthquake in recent memory in Taiwan.
Hualien County, home to around 300,000 residents and renowned for its proximity to Taroko Gorge, remains a popular tourist destination despite the frequent seismic activity in the region. As the situation continues to unfold, updates on any developments will be provided as they emerge.