Breaking news earthquake: A 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in the city of Hualien on the east coast of Taiwan. The US Geological Survey (USGS) announced that the epicenter of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake was 18 kilometers south of the city of Hualien on the east coast of Taiwan.
It was reported that some buildings in the region collapsed due to the earthquake that occurred at a depth of 34.8 kilometers.
A SECOND EARTHQUAKE OF 6.4 MAGTENANCE
USGS announced that a second earthquake of magnitude 6.4 was recorded within 20 minutes after the first earthquake, 11 kilometers northeast of the city of Hualien, at a depth of 12.6 kilometers.
TSUNAMI ALERT WAS GIVEN
Taiwan’s Central Meteorological Administration (CWA) issued a tsunami warning for the northern regions of the island. CWA reported that this was the strongest earthquake to hit Taiwan in the last 25 years.
USGS warned that waves 1 to 3 meters high could reach the coasts of Taiwan and China.
According to cybersecurity and internet watchdog “NetBlocks”, some parts of Taiwan experienced power and internet outages after the earthquake.
Taiwanese media reported that the Suhua Expressway on the east coast of Hualien was closed to traffic due to collapses.
The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred 150 kilometers south of Taipei in 1999 caused the death of approximately 2,400 people.
JAPAN AND THE PHILIPPINES
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning that could reach a height of 3 meters for Okinawa and Miyakojima islands in the southwest of the country.
The official Kyodo Agency announced that the tsunami waves after the earthquake reached the shores of Yonaguni and Ishigaki islands near Okinawa.
It was reported that flights were canceled and Naha Airport in Okinawa was evacuated.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa announced that damage assessment activities are continuing in the Okinawa region after the earthquake.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that coastal areas should be evacuated due to the danger of tsunami.
(AA)