The 7.4 magnitude earthquake that hit Taiwan on Wednesday has severely damaged a major highway along its eastern coast, according to local television stations.
Footage aired on CNN affiliate TVBS showed large boulders had fallen on the Suhua Highway, with several tunnels broken — including one that was split in half.
CNN affiliate SET News shows the front of a car smashed by fallen rocks.
At least nine rockfalls and landslides have been reported on the Suhua Highway, and the entire line has been closed, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported, citing authorities.
Another highway connecting the west coast with the east of Taiwan was also damaged by rockfall, with at least 12 cars hit and nine people injured, TVBS reported.
Some background: Winding along steep cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean, the Suhua Highway is known as one of Taiwan’s most dangerous — yet also the most scenic — drives.
It connects the northeast of Taiwan to the eastern city of Hualien, which is near the earthquake’s epicenter.
