A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake jolted Hualien County in China's Taiwan region on Wednesday morning, resulting in the tragic loss of at least nine lives and leaving hundreds injured, according to local authorities.
During a press conference, an official from the local earthquake center described the tremor as \"the strongest quake the region has seen since 1999.\" The China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) reported that the earthquake struck at 7:58 a.m. off the coast of Hualien County, the city closest to the epicenter. The earthquake originated at a shallow depth of 12 kilometers, intensifying its impact.
The powerful tremor was felt across the entire island of Taiwan, triggering rockslides in mountainous areas. These landslides contributed to the nine fatalities reported by Taiwan's health and welfare agency as of 4:30 p.m. In addition to the loss of life, the earthquake has left over 80,000 households without power, and several buildings have either collapsed or are observed to be tilting.
Emergency response teams are currently working to assess the damage and provide assistance to those affected. The situation remains fluid, with aftershocks continuing to impact the region and complicate recovery efforts.
The community is urged to stay vigilant and follow safety protocols as authorities work to restore power and ensure the structural integrity of buildings across Hualien County and surrounding areas.
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M7.3 earthquake hits China's Taiwan, aftershocks impact region
cgtn.com