A 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred off Taiwan’s east coast on Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings for the island and neighboring countries.
Earthquake Hits Taiwan’s East Coast
According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter is around 18 kilometers (11 miles) south of Taiwan’s Hualien city. Several structures in Hualien have partially collapsed and are seen sagging at dangerous angles. Seismology officials reported that this is Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in 25 years.
Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC said it has evacuated several of its operations in Hsinchu and southern Taiwan for the safety of its employees, but its safety systems are still operational.TSMC is a prominent semiconductor maker for technology companies such as Apple and Nvidia.
Buildings in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, are seen shaking fiercely, sending goods flying from shelves and overturning furniture.
