A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Taiwan on Sunday. The island’s weather bureau said the incident derailed a train carriage that collapsed a shop and trapped hundreds of people on mountain roads. News from Reuters.
The island’s weather bureau said the epicenter of the quake was in Taitung County and another magnitude 6.4 earthquake was felt in the same area on Saturday evening. However, there were no casualties.
The US Geological Survey measured Sunday’s earthquake at a magnitude of 7.2 and a depth of 10 kilometers.
Taiwan’s fire department said one person died and 146 were injured in the quake.
Four people were rescued from a collapsed building in Yuli. On the other hand, three people’s car fell from the damaged bridge and they were rescued and taken to the hospital.
Six carriages derailed at Dongli Station in eastern Taiwan after part of the platform canopy collapsed, the Taiwan Railways Administration said. However, no casualties were reported by the fire department.
More than 600 people are stranded in Chik and Liushishi hilly areas due to road blockades. However, there were no injuries and rescuers are working to reopen the roads, the department said.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for Taiwan after the quake, but later lifted the warning. The Japan Meteorological Agency has lifted the tsunami warning for parts of Okinawa Prefecture.
The Meteorological Bureau said the earthquake could be felt across Taiwan.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said it had no significant impact from the earthquake.
Taiwan is located near the intersection of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes.
In 2016, an earthquake in southern Taiwan killed more than 100 people. Earlier in 1999, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake killed more than 2,000 people.
(September 19)