6.8 magnitude earthquake traps hundreds in Taiwan

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the sparsely populated southeastern a part of Taiwan on Sunday, the island’s climate bureau mentioned, derailing practice carriages, inflicting a comfort retailer to break down and trapping lots of on mountain roads.

The climate bureau mentioned the epicenter was in Taitung county, and adopted a 6.4 magnitude temblor on Saturday night in the identical space, which induced no casualties.

The US Geological Survey measured Sunday’s quake at a magnitude 7.2 and at a depth of six miles.

Taiwan’s hearth division mentioned all 4 individuals have been rescued from a constructing housing a comfort retailer that collapsed in Yuli, whereas three individuals whose automobile fell off a broken bridge have been rescued and brought to hospital.

Firefighters work on the website the place a constructing collapsed following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake, in Yuli, Hualien county, Taiwan.

Taiwan's 0918 Earthquake Central Emergency Operations Centre/Handout by way of REUTERS

The Taiwan Railways Administration mentioned six carriages got here off the rails at Dongli station in japanese Taiwan after a part of the platform cover collapsed, however the hearth division mentioned there have been no accidents.

Greater than 600 persons are trapped on the scenic Chike and Liushishi mountain areas by blocked roads, although there have been no accidents and rescuers have been working to reopen the roads, the division mentioned.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Heart issued a warning for Taiwan after the tremor however later lifted the alert. Japan’s climate company lifted a tsunami warning for a part of Okinawa prefecture.

The earthquake hit Taiwan on Sunday, derailing practice carriages, inflicting a comfort retailer to break down and trapping lots of.

Taiwan's 0918 Earthquake Central Emergency Operations Centre/Handout by way of REUTERS

The quake might be felt throughout Taiwan, the climate bureau mentioned. Buildings shook briefly within the capital Taipei, and aftershocks have continued to jolt the island.

Science parks within the southern cities of Tainan and Kaohsiung, residence to main semiconductor factories, mentioned there was no affect on operations.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, mentioned there was “no identified vital affect for now.”

Taiwan’s hearth division reported all 4 individuals have been rescued from a constructing housing a comfort retailer that collapsed.

Taiwan's 0918 Earthquake Central Emergency Operations Centre/Handout by way of REUTERS

Taiwan lies close to the junction of two tectonic plates and is vulnerable to earthquakes.

Greater than 100 individuals have been killed in a quake in southern Taiwan in 2016, whereas a 7.3 magnitude quake killed greater than 2,000 individuals in 1999.