Major Quake Shakes Taiwan—At Least Four Killed As Dozens Of Buildings Are Damaged

 

In this image taken from a video footage run by TVBS, a partially collapsed building is seen in Hualien, eastern Taiwan on Wednesday.

Taiwan was struck by its strongest earthquake in more than two decades on Wednesday morning, which caused the deaths of at least four people as dozens of buildings across the island were severely damaged.

The epicenter of the quake was in Hualien County on the island’s east coast, with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) measuring it at a 7.4 magnitude, while Taiwan’s monitoring agency pegged it at 7.2 magnitude.

Taiwan’s National Fire Agency said at least four people have died in Hualien County, three of whom are believed to be hikers killed by falling rocks in the mountainous area, local newspaper United Daily News reported.

According to Reuters, at least 26 buildings have collapsed on the island and more than 50 people sustained injuries.

Some of the most dramatic images of the disaster showed a five-story building in Hualien City precariously leaning diagonally toward the right after what appears to be the collapse of its first floor.