7.2 magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan on Wednesday, killing four people and leaving hundreds as casualties.
Taiwan’s government revealed that four people had died in the populated eastern county of Hualien near where the epicentre was, also 711 people injured.
The fire department said 77 people remained trapped, some in collapsed buildings in Hualien.
Taiwan television stations showed footage of buildings on different angle in Hualien, where the quake struck just offshore around 8 am (0000GMT) as people were going to work and school.
The quake was centred just off the east coast at a depth of 15.5km (9.6 miles), according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration.
There was also strong shaking felt on Taipei’s subway system, which closed briefly to evacuate passengers though service resumed soon after on most lines.
Japan’s weather agency, which put the earthquake’s magnitude at 7.7, said several small tsunami waves reached parts of the southern prefecture of Okinawa.
Taiwan also issued a tsunami warning but reported no damage from that, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii later said the risk of damaging tsunami waves had passed.
Electricity operator Taipower said most power had been restored, adding that the island’s two nuclear power stations were not affected by the temblor.
Taiwan’s official central news agency said the quake was the biggest to hit the island since 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude tremor killed around 2,400 people and destroyed or damaged 50,000 buildings in one of Taiwan’s worst-recorded quakes.
The presidential office said president-elect Lai Ching-te, who takes office next month, would visit Hualien later on Wednesday.
Four Dead, More Casualties As Earthquake Hits Taiwan
