Death toll rises to 9 in powerful earthquake in Taiwan

Last Updated on April 4, 2024 4:29 am

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in Taiwan has risen to 9.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit the east coast of the island region around 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday (April 3).

This is the worst earthquake in the history of the region in the last 25 years. In addition to Taiwan, tsunami warnings were issued for Japan and the Philippines.

The Taiwan government said that the fear of tsunami has passed. But the casualty picture is getting worse.

According to a media report, 736 seriously injured people are being rescued and treated. Many people are trapped in different parts of the rubble. Rescue operations are underway to identify their location.

The epicenter of Wednesday’s earthquake was 18 kilometers south of Hualien, Taiwan, according to the US Geological Survey. Its origin is said to be 34.8 kilometers deep from the surface. However, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration says that the depth of this earthquake was 15.5 kilometers.

Taiwan’s government said casualties were highest in the mountainous and sparsely populated Hualien County in the eastern region.

Apart from this, at least 26 buildings have collapsed. More than half of them are located in Hualien.

Su Ching-hui, an official from the local fire service department, told Reuters news agency that rescuers were facing extreme difficulties.

He said, “Whenever our rescuers are trying, the collapsed building is moving.” Therefore, ways are being sought to ensure the safety of the rescuers and the trapped people before evacuating people from there.