A powerful earthquake shook the entire island of Taiwan early Wednesday, collapsing buildings in a southern city and triggering a tsunami that reached the shores of Japan's southern islands.
This was reported by AP.
According to the Taiwan Meteorological Service, the magnitude of the earthquake was 7.2 on the Richter scale.
At the same time, the Japanese NHK television reported an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 off the southwestern coast of Japan. A tsunami warning has been issued for southern Okinawa Prefecture.
"Evacuate to higher ground, don't turn back,", advised a host of Japanese public broadcaster NHK.
Taiwanese authorities have issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas.
"The earthquake may trigger a tsunami that will affect Taiwan. The tsunami warning has been issued to remind residents of coastal areas to be vigilant,'' said a message sent to locals on their mobile phones.
🚨BREAKING: Multiple buildings have reportedly collapsed in Taiwan following a preliminary 7.5 magnitude earthquake.
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) April 3, 2024
The video is reportedly from Hualien, Taiwan.pic.twitter.com/qIrOkkAzWY
A five-story building in the sparsely populated Taiwanese city of Hualien was badly damaged, with its first floor collapsing and the rest leaning at a 45-degree angle. In the capital Taipei, roof tiles fell from older buildings and cladding panels from some newer office complexes.
Buildings are collapsing due to earthquake and then there is a tsunami threat too as per the predictions, these are difficult times, please pray for the people of Taiwan pic.twitter.com/iAg7AVkZdl pic.twitter.com/DWuHBxGUcj — U M A R (@Agrumpycomedian) April 3, 2024
Trains on the island of 23 million people were suspended, as was the subway in Taipei. In the capital, however, things quickly returned to normal, the children went to school, and the morning commute seemed normal.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that a 30 cm high tsunami wave was detected off the coast of Yonaguni Island about 15 minutes after the earthquake.
🚨BREAKING: 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Taiwan # earthquake
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) April 3, 2024
The shaking was so bad that people commuting to work stopped.pic.twitter.com/jNgUZm9pMl
Seismologists said the waves probably also affected the coasts of Miyako and Yaeyama islands. Japan's Self-Defense Forces have sent planes to gather information about the impact of the tsunami in the Okinawa area and are preparing shelters for evacuees if necessary.
🚨BREAKING: A landslide caused by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Taiwan.pic.twitter.com/SmFRxqmgvw
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) April 3, 2024
BTA recalls that an earthquake struck near the east coast of Taiwan shortly before 08:00 local time (09:00 Japan time, 00:00 GMT). Its magnitude was estimated at 7.5 by the Japan Meteorological Agency, 7.4 by the United States Geophysical Survey (USGS), and 7.2 by the Taiwan Meteorological Agency.