Taiwan: The earthquake that occurred in Taiwan this Wednesday morning was the strongest in the last 25 years. During this time, such strong earthquake tremors were felt in Taiwan that buildings started swinging like a swing. Buildings and highways were damaged in this. So far, 9 deaths have been reported. Due to the earthquake, 70 miners are trapped in two stone mines and people were evacuated from the windows of damaged buildings. More than 900 people are said to be injured in this earthquake. The intensity of the earthquake was initially reported as 7.2. But according to American reports it was even faster.
According to the US Geological Survey, the intensity of the earthquake was measured at 7.4. Its center was about 35 kilometers south-southwest of Hualien. The National Parliament Building and a section of the main airport south of Taipei were moderately damaged. This Parliament building is in a school built before the Second World War. Traffic almost came to a standstill due to landslides and falling debris in tunnels and highways in the mountainous region near the east coast. Train service was suspended throughout the island and subway service in Taipei was also temporarily closed. The population of the island country is 2.3 crore.
The person said he saw the earthquake with his own eyes
Hsien Hsien Keng, who lives in a five-story building in Taipei, said, “I have grown up with such tremors, but today for the first time I started crying out of fear.” I got up with. I have never felt such strong tremors.” Taiwan’s National Fire Agency said nine people died in the earthquake that occurred around 8 a.m. Local newspaper ‘United Daily News’ reported that three hikers were killed when a rock fell on them in Taroko National Park, and the driver of a van was also killed when a large stone fell on it in the same area. According to official figures, 934 people have been injured. He said that 50 people who had gone to the national park in a minibus have lost contact due to communication disruption after the earthquake.
The intensity of the earthquake was 7.4
The earthquake and aftershocks have caused 24 landslides and damaged 35 roads, bridges and tunnels. Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency reported that the earthquake’s magnitude was 7.2, while according to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake’s intensity was measured at 7.4. The chaos that broke out on the island immediately after the earthquake soon returned to normal because in Taiwan, people are trained in schools and other places to deal with such situations and notices are sent through media and mobile phones. Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology, said Taiwan’s preparations are among the most advanced in the world, including strict building construction standards and a world-class seismology network. By afternoon the situation had returned to normal and Beitou, a northern suburb of Taipei, saw crowded subways and people going to work.
China also felt earthquake shocks
According to Chinese media, earthquake tremors were also felt in China’s financial capital Shanghai and the southeast coast. The distance between China and Taiwan is about 160 kilometers. At the same time, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said that a 30 cm high tsunami wave was seen on Yonaguni Island 15 minutes after the earthquake. Small waves also occurred on Ishigaki and Miyako islands. However, all warnings in the area were withdrawn on Wednesday afternoon. Hualien had previously experienced earthquakes in 2018, in which 17 people died and a historic hotel was destroyed. The most severe earthquake in Taiwan in recent years occurred on September 21, 1999, with a magnitude of 7.7. 2400 people died in this. About one lakh people were injured. (AP)
Latest World News