POWERFUL 7.4 EARTHQUAKE JOLTS TAIWAN
Nine people killed, many others hurt
HUALIEN, Taiwan — The strongest earthquake in a quarter-century rocked Taiwan on Wednesday morning, killing nine people, stranding dozens in a quarry, and sending some residents scrambling out the windows of damaged buildings.
The quake, which injured more than 1,000, struck during rush hour and was centered off the coast of rural, mountainous Hualien County, where some buildings leaned at severe angles, their ground floors crushed. Just over 93 miles away in the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and schools evacuated students to sports fields as aftershocks rattled the island nation.
Rescuers fanned out in Hualien, looking for people who may be trapped and using excavators to stabilize damaged buildings. The numbers of people missing, trapped or stranded fluctuated as authorities learned of more in trouble and worked to locate or free them.
Some 70 workers who were stranded at two rock quarries were safe, according to Taiwan’s national fire agency, but the roads to reach them were damaged by falling rocks. Six workers were going to be airlifted on Thursday.
In the early hours after the quake, which struck just before 8 a.m., neighbors and rescue workers could be seen on TV lifting residents, including a toddler, through windows and onto the street.
Taiwan is regularly jolted by quakes and its population is among the best prepared for them. But authorities expected a relatively mild earthquake and did not send out alerts. The eventual quake was strong enough to scare even people who are used to such shaking.
“I’ve grown accustomed to (earthquakes). But today was the first time I was scared to tears by an earthquake,” said Hsien-hsuen Keng, who lives in a fifthfloor apartment in Taipei. “I had never felt such intense shaking before.”
Most of the fatalities were caused by falling rocks, including four people who were struck inside Taroko National Park, according to the state Central News Agency. One died in a residential building, the news agency said. At least 1,011 people were reported injured.
The quake and aftershocks caused landslides and damaged roads, bridges and tunnels. Hualien Mayor Hsu Chen-wei said 48 residential buildings were damaged in the city, which shares a name with the county. Mr. Hsu said water and electricity supplies were being restored.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency said the quake was 7.2 magnitude while the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck about 11 miles off Hualien, on Taiwan’s east coast. Multiple aftershocks followed.
Traffic along the east coast was at a virtual standstill. Train service was suspended across the island of 23 million people, with some tracks twisted by the stress of the quake, as was subway service in Taipei.
The initial panic after the earthquake quickly faded on the island, which prepares for such events with drills at schools and notices issued via public media and mobile phone. Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology, said Taiwan’s readiness is among the most advanced in the world and includes strict building codes.
The earthquake was felt in Shanghai and several provinces along China’s southeastern coast, according to Chinese media. China and Taiwan are about 100 miles apart.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami of about 1 foot was detected on the coast of Yonaguni island about 15 minutes after the quake struck. Smaller waves were measured in Ishigaki and Miyako islands.