By Wayne Chang and Helen Regan | CNN
A major earthquake measuring 7.4 struck Taiwan’s eastern coast on Wednesday, according to the US Geological Survey, triggering tsunami warnings for the island and southern Japan.
The epicenter of the earthquake is located about 18 kilometers south of Hualien city. Tremors were felt across the island, including by CNN staff in Taipei.
Taiwan’s Central Meteorological Administration issued a tsunami warning following the quake. A CWA alert was sent to residents, but not all received it, warning that a tsunami is expected to impact the northern coastal area and that residents are advised to evacuate to safer ground. students.
The Japan Meteorological Agency also issued a tsunami warning for the islands of Miyakojima and Okinawa, warning of waves of up to 3 meters expected imminently.
Several aftershocks were felt in Taiwan, including one with a magnitude of 6.5, according to the USGS.
It was the most powerful earthquake to hit the island in 25 years, according to a spokesperson for the Central Meteorological Administration. In 1999, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck 150 kilometers south of Taipei, killing 2,400 people and injuring 10,000.
Taiwan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which runs along the edge of the Pacific Ocean and causes massive seismic and volcanic activity from Indonesia to Chile.
The island is regularly shaken by earthquakes. A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck near Hualien in 2018, killing at least 17 people and injuring more than 300 others.
Hualien County is home to around 300,000 people and is close to Taroko Gorge, a popular tourist destination.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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