At least seven people were killed in a major earthquake in eastern Taiwan last night. Authorities report that more than 820 people have been injured and 127 people remain trapped in tunnels or buildings. The quake had a magnitude of 7.2, making it the strongest in Taiwan in almost 25 years.
The quake occurred during the morning rush hour, shortly before 8 a.m. local time. The epicenter was in the sea, about 25 kilometers from the coastal town of Hualien. More than a hundred aftershocks were recorded in the hours after the major quake. According to Taiwanese media, three of the fatalities died in a national park near Hualien. They were said to have been hit by a rock avalanche in the mountainous area. In the city, sagging buildings partly hang over the streets. A truck driver also died after his vehicle was hit by a landslide. President Tsai Ing-wen has promised that the army will be deployed in the rescue work. The earthquake also caused damage in the capital Taipei, more than 100 kilometers further north. Facade cladding, among other things, ended up on the street. Items also fell over in many homes. Offices and school buildings were evacuated and train traffic on the island was stopped. Hundreds of thousands of households were without power for several hours. After the quake, the Philippines and Japan issued tsunami warnings, but only small waves were generated. The quake was also felt along China's south-eastern coast, such as in the port city of Shanghai. China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province, was quick to offer aid to the island, but Taiwan has said it will not take advantage of it. Japan and Paraguay have also pledged assistance.
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