On Wednesday, April 3, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 occurred in Taiwan. This is the strongest earthquake to hit the island in at least 25 years. Four people died and hundreds were injured. A tsunami is possible in southern Japan and the Philippines.
This was reported by Reuters.
Taiwan's government reported that four people had died in the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien, where the epicenter of the earthquake was located, and 711 were injured. At least 100 buildings were destroyed, more than half in Hualien, about 77 people remained trapped, and rescue works are ongoing.
According to the Taiwan's Central Weather Administration, the earthquake was centered just off the east coast at a depth of 15.5km (9.6 miles).
Japan's weather agency reported that several small tsunami waves reached parts of southern Okinawa Prefecture, and later downgraded the tsunami warning to a cautionary level. The magnitude of the earthquake was 7.7.
The Philippine Seismological Agency also issued a warning for residents of coastal areas in several provinces, urging them to evacuate to higher ground.
Taiwan also issued a tsunami warning, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii later said the risk of destructive tsunami waves had passed.
Chinese state media reported that the earthquake was felt in China's Fujian province, and a Reuters eyewitness said the quake was also felt in Shanghai.
Electricity operator Taipower reported that more than 87,000 households in Taiwan were still without power, adding that the country's two nuclear power stations were not affected by the temblor.
Taiwan's official Central News Agency reported that the quake was the strongest on the island since 1999, when a 7.6-magnitude tremor killed about 2,400 people and destroyed or damaged 50,000 buildings in one of Taiwan's worst earthquakes.
Earlier "Apostrophe" reported that 111 people were killed and more than 200 injured as a result of the earthquake in northwest China.