Seven people have been killed and 735 others injured after a 7.2 magnitude hit Taiwan’s eastern coast at 7.58 a.m. local time on Wednesday, the National Fire Agency (NFA) stated.
The quake hit 18 kilometres (11 miles) south of the city of Hualien at a depth of 34.8 kilometres, according to the U.S Geological Survey.
Out of the seven deaths, 3 were hiking when the quake struck. Approximately 77 people are stuck or stranded, including four international nationalities.
Taiwan's NFA said that approximately 60 people are stuck in the Jinwen Tunnel in northern Hualien County. Another 15 people are stuck in the Dachingshui Tunnel, while two Germans are trapped in a third tunnel.
The NFA reports that more than 100 buildings have been damaged. Pictures show buildings tipped to one side and collapsing to the ground. Hualien County, the earthquake's epicentre, accounts for roughly half of the damaged buildings.
The earthquake was followed by severe aftershocks, causing tremors over the island, including in Taipei. Tremors up to magnitude 7 are forecast in the coming days.
Hualien County, where the quake happened, has a population of over 300,000 people, with approximately 100,000 living in Hualien City. However, because many people in the region live in distant coastal or mountain settlements that are difficult to reach, determining the full damage of Wednesday's quake may take some time.
According to Taiwan's Central Emergency Command Centre, more than 91,000 households were without electricity. Tsunami warnings were issued in Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines following the earthquake, but have since been cancelled. The warnings caused airlines and airports to cancel flights.
Taiwan: 7.2 magnitude quake makes 7 deaths and more than 700 injured
