Powerful Taiwan quake kills at least 4, scores missing; tsunami warning lifted

A POWERFUL earthquake struck off Taiwan’s east coast on Wednesday, killing at least four people.

The 7.4 magnitude quake caused multiple buildings to collapse in Hualien, the city closest to the epicentre, where rescue efforts are taking place.

The strongest tremor to hit the island in 25 years was also felt as far as Taiwan’s mountainous interior, which was rocked by huge landslides.

In the capital Taipei, footage showed buildings shaking violently.

“The earthquake is close to land and it’s shallow. It’s felt all over Taiwan and offshore islands… It’s the strongest in 25 years,” said Wu Chien Fu, the director of Taipei’s Seismology Centre.

The National Fire Agency said three have died at a trail around Taroko National Park, named after a landmark gorge just outside Hualien.

More than 50 people have been injured, with some trapped in buildings and tunnels around the city, the agency added.

Earlier, the earthquake set off tsunami warnings on the island and its neighboring countries.

In Taipei, footage on local media outlets show collapsed residential buildings and people being evacuated from their homes and schools.

Power cuts and internet outages have been reported across the island, according to internet monitoring group NetBlocks.

Wednesday’s earthquake hit at 07:58 local time (23:58 GMT) at a depth of 15.5km and has set off at least nine aftershocks at magnitude 4 or larger. The earthquake’s epicentre is located about 18km (11 miles) south of Hualien, according to the US Geological Survey.