A powerful earthquake rocked the entire island of Taiwan early Wednesday, collapsing buildings in a southern city and creating a tsunami that washed ashore on southern Japanese islands.
A five-story building in lightly populated Hualien appeared heavily damaged, collapsing its first floor and leaving the rest leaning at a 45-degree angle. In the capital, Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings and within some newer office complexes.
Train service was suspended across the island of 23 million people, as was subway service in Taipei. But things quickly returned to normal in the capital, with children going to school and the morning commute appearing to be normal.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami wave of 30 centimeters (about 1 feet) was detected on the coast of Yonaguni island about 15 minutes after the quake struck. JAMA said waves likely also hit the coasts of Miyako and Yaeyama islands. Japan’s Self Defense Force sent aircraft to gather information about the tsunami impact around the Okinawa region and were preparing shelters for evacuees if necessary.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency gave the magnitude as 7.2 while the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck at 7:58 a.m. about 18 kilometers south-southwest of Hualien and was about 35 kilometers (21 miles) deep.
The head of Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring bureau, Wu Chien-fu, said effects were detected as far away as Kinmen, a Taiwanese-controlled island off the coast of China. Multiple aftershocks were felt in Taipei in the hour after the initial quake.
The USGS said one of the subsequent quakes was 6.5 magnitude and 11.8 kilometers (7 miles) deep.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii or the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.
The quake was believed to be the biggest in Taiwan since a temblor in 1999 caused extensive damage. Taiwan lies along the Pacific ”“Ring of Fire,” the line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquake’s occur.
@FederalistBustardRepublican2mos2MO
Wouldn’t surprise me to see China use this as an opportunity to invade.
Is it possible for a nation to trigger an earthquake?— asking for a friend
This is going to cause the stock market to have a very red day with Nvidia main production coming out of Taiwan.. could see a massive pullback in it if Taiwan semi conductor has damage or reduced capacity as a result
@SincereJerkyLibertarian2mos2MO
The mid west was hit by tornados today with a lot of damage but don’t worry Biden and his crew will round up billions in aid for Taiwan while our own people sleep without roofs, power, water or gas!
@SteadfastTomatoeSocialist2mos2MO
7.5 is massive. This could spell unspeakable tragedy
@TheRightEddieGreen2mos2MO
This is horrible. I have not seen this kind of destruction from an earthquake in a long time. Japan could suffer massive flooding from the tsunamis headed there way.
@CaribouTimForward2mos2MO
Absolutely scary stuff!
You’ll notice it’s alot of older buildings that have suffered during this earthquake as newer buildings are built to new building code standards similar to that of Japan to withstand high impact earthquakes.
Prayers to the Taiwanese people.
@PanickyG3rrymanderForward2mos2MO
Oh no! That's devastating news! My thoughts are with the people of Taiwan, especially those in Hualien City, which seems to have been hit the hardest. I hope the damage is not too extensive and that everyone is evacuating safely. The tsunami warning for Japan is also concerning. Let's hope for the best outcome and minimal loss of life. Stay safe,
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
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