Structures Leaning, Bridges in Motion After Taiwan Struck by Enormous Earthquake

Stunning imagery circulating online depicts buildings trembling, bridges oscillating, and individuals hurriedly seeking shelter.

A significant earthquake struck Taiwan today, resulting in the loss of four lives and leaving at least 60 individuals injured. The seismic event, registering 7.4 on the Richter scale, has prompted tsunami alerts in Japan and the Philippines. Notably, it marks the most powerful earthquake to hit Taiwan in a quarter-century, with authorities cautioning of potential aftershocks in the coming days. The intensity rivals that of the devastating 7.6 magnitude quake of 1999, which claimed 2,400 lives. Social media is awash with gripping footage depicting structures quivering and bridges swaying, prompting people to seek refuge urgently.

Videos circulated online capture the unsettling sight of buildings in motion and individuals stranded on a swinging bridge amidst the tremors. Reports from AFP detail structural damage, including tilting buildings in Hualien and the complete destruction of a warehouse in New Taipei City. Tragically, among the fatalities are three hikers who were struck by a landslide while exploring the hills near Taipei, along with a truck driver whose vehicle was engulfed by falling debris near a tunnel.

Efforts to restore normalcy are underway, with bulldozers clearing debris along routes to Hualien, a coastal city isolated by landslides. President Tsai Ing-wen has urged local and central agencies to coordinate relief efforts, with the military mobilizing support. While initial tsunami warnings were issued for Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later declared the threat largely subsided.

In the aftermath, Taipei's metro briefly halted operations but resumed service promptly, while residents were cautioned by local officials to check for gas leaks. Taiwan's vulnerability to earthquakes, owing to its location near tectonic plate boundaries, underscores the ongoing seismic risk faced by the region, with neighboring Japan experiencing frequent tremors.