NOS News•today, 03:14•Amended today, 04:24
Eastern Taiwan has been rocked by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake. In the coastal town of Hualien, buildings have collapsed; they now partly hang over the street. There have also been several rock avalanches in the mountainous coastal area.
There was less damage in the capital Taipei, more than a hundred kilometers further north. Facade cladding, among other things, ended up on the street. Items also fell over in many homes. As far as we know there are no casualties.
As a result of the earthquake, train traffic throughout the country was temporarily halted. Offices and school buildings were evacuated.
Taiwan regularly experiences earthquakes, but a quake of this magnitude does not occur often. According to the Taiwan Geological Survey, the quake had a magnitude of 7.2; American measurements indicate a force of 7.4.
The epicenter was in the sea, about 25 kilometers southeast of Hualien. As a result of the quake, the Philippines and Japan issued tsunami warnings.
