Earthquake today: Taiwan hit by 7.2 strong quake, multiple buildings collapsed, tsunami warning issued

A powerful earthquake shook Taiwan early on April 3, causing buildings to collapse and impacting the entire island, AP reported. According to Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency, the magnitude of the quake was 7.2, while the US Geological Survey estimated it to be 7.5.

Television footage depicted buildings in Taiwan’s eastern city of Hualien being shaken from their foundations, with tremors felt even in the capital Taipei.

Further local Taiwan news has been reporting that people are trapped in collapsed buildings in Hualien, as per Reuters. Reports also added that the eastern coast of Taiwan is seeing several rockslides and landslides.

Tsunami Warning in Japan

Japan also issued a tsunami alert for the southern Japanese island group of Okinawa, it added.

The Japan Meteorological Agency predicted a tsunami of up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) following the quake, which occurred at 7:58 am local time. Approximately 30 minutes later, it was reported that the initial wave of the tsunami had likely reached the shores of the Miyako and Yaeyama islands.

(With inputs from AP and Reuters)