A powerful earthquake has struck off the coast of Taiwan, causing widespread shaking across the island and leading to the collapse of buildings in at least one town. I’m Reged Ahmad, and I’ll be guiding you through the developments in the coming hours.
Japan has issued a tsunami alert for the southern Japanese island group of Okinawa, according to reports.
The earthquake’s epicenter is situated approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) south of the city of Hualien. Tremors were felt across the island, including by CNN staff based in Taipei.
Initial reports of damage have surfaced, with reports of tilted houses in Hualien County, as indicated by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry.
Following the quake, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration issued a tsunami warning, urging residents to move to higher ground as a tsunami was anticipated to affect the island’s northern coastal areas.
Similarly, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami alert for the southern Miyakojima and Okinawa islands, warning of waves reaching heights of up to 3 meters (nearly 10 feet). A 30-centimeter (nearly 1 foot) wave was reported to have hit Okinawa, according to the agency.
In response to the tsunami warnings, all flights departing from Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures have been halted, Japan Airlines confirmed.
Taiwan’s official central news agency reported that this earthquake is the most significant to hit the island since 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude tremor claimed the lives of around 2,400 people and caused destruction to approximately 50,000 buildings, marking one of Taiwan’s most devastating recorded earthquakes.
The Central Weather Administration of Taiwan stated that the earthquake registered the second-highest intensity of an “Upper 6” in Hualien County, based on the 1-7 intensity scale.
In an Upper 6 earthquake, most unreinforced concrete-block walls collapse, and individuals may find it difficult to remain standing or move without crawling, as explained by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
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