A 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked Taiwan on Wednesday, the strongest tremor to hit the island in at least 25 years, killing four people, injuring dozens and sparking a tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines that was later lifted.
Taiwan’s government said four people had died in the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien where the epicentre was, with more than 50 injured.
The earthquake also damaged buildings in Hualien, while train services were suspended across Taiwan. Options were given to schools and government offices to cancel classes and work.
While the US Geological Survey (USGS) said the temblor’s magnitude was 7.4, Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency said it measured 7.2 on the Richter scale.
The earthquake struck at 7.58 am, about 18 km south-southwest of Hualien and was about 35 km deep.
The USGS said multiple aftershocks hit Taipei, including one that was 6.5 magnitude and about 11.8 km deep.
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