Current:Home > InvestA strong earthquake shakes Taiwan, damaging buildings and causing a small tsunami-LoTradeCoin
A strong earthquake shakes Taiwan, damaging buildings and causing a small tsunami
View Date:2024-12-24 13:32:11
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A powerful earthquake rocked Taiwan during the morning rush Wednesday, damaging buildings and creating a tsunami that washed ashore on southern Japanese islands.
A five-story building in lightly populated Hualien appeared heavily damaged, collapsing its first floor and leaving the rest leaning at a 45-degree angle. In the capital, Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings and within some newer office complexes. Schools evacuated their students to sports fields, equipping them with protective yellow head coverings. Many small children also wore motorcycle helmets to guard against falling objects amid continuing aftershocks.
Train service was suspended across the island of 23 million people, as was subway service in Taipei, where a newly constructed above-ground line partially separated. The national legislature, a converted school built before World War II, also had damage to walls and ceilings.
Despite the quake striking at the height of the morning rush hour, there was little panic on the island that regularly is rocked by temblors and holds drills at schools and issues notices via public media and mobile phone. Schools and government offices were given the option of cancelling work and classes.
There was still no word on casualties in Hualien, where a deadly quake in 2018 collapsed a historic hotel and other buildings. Taiwan’s worst quake in recent years struck on Sept. 21, 1999 with a magnitude of 7.7, causing 2,400 deaths, injuring around 100,000 and destroying thousands of buildings.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami wave of 30 centimeters (about 1 feet) was detected on the coast of Yonaguni island about 15 minutes after the quake struck. Smaller waves were measured in Ishigaki and Miyako islands. Japan’s Self Defense Forces sent aircraft to gather information about the tsunami impact around the Okinawa region and were preparing shelters for evacuees if necessary.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency gave the magnitude as 7.2 while the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck at 7:58 a.m. about 18 kilometers south-southwest of Hualien and was about 35 kilometers (21 miles) deep.
The head of Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring bureau, Wu Chien-fu, said effects were detected as far away as Kinmen, a Taiwanese-controlled island off the coast of China. Multiple aftershocks were felt in Taipei in the hour after the initial quake. The USGS said one of the subsequent quakes was 6.5 magnitude and 11.8 kilometers (7 miles) deep.
China issued no tsunami warnings for the Chinese mainland. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii or the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.
The quake was believed to be the biggest in Taiwan since a temblor in 1999 caused extensive damage. Taiwan lies along the Pacific ”“Ring of Fire,” the line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquake’s occur.
veryGood! (29)
Related
- Jason Statham Shares Rare Family Photos of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Their Kids on Vacation
- Afghanistan earthquake death toll climbs amid frantic search and rescue efforts in Herat province
- 104-year-old Chicago woman dies days after making a skydive that could put her in the record books
- Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel raises questions about the influence of its sponsor, Iran
- Don't Miss This Sweet Moment Between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Dads at the Kansas City Chiefs Game
- Guns N' Roses forced to relocate Phoenix concert after stadium team make baseball playoffs
- Arizona Diamondbacks silence the LA Dodgers again, continuing their stunning postseason
- CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil describes roller coaster weekend with 2 kids, ex-wife in war-torn Israel
- Biden funded new factories and infrastructure projects, but Trump might get to cut the ribbons
- Man arrested for throwing rocks at Illinois governor’s Chicago home, breaking 3 windows, police say
Ranking
- Missouri prosecutor says he won’t charge Nelly after an August drug arrest
- 'This is against all rules': Israeli mom begs for return of 2 sons kidnapped by Hamas
- Bulgaria arrests 12 people for violating EU sanctions on exports to Russia
- Fiery crash during prestigious ballooning race leaves 2 Polish pilots with burns and other injuries
- What’s the secret to growing strong, healthy nails?
- Biden remains committed to two-state solution amid Israel-Hamas war, national security spokesman says
- Horrors emerge from Hamas infiltration of Israel on Gaza border
- NHL issues updated theme night guidance, which includes a ban on players using Pride tape on the ice
Recommendation
-
Federal judge denies request to block measure revoking Arkansas casino license
-
The US declares the ousting of Niger’s president a coup and suspends military aid and training
-
Georgia’s rising public high school graduation rate hits record in 2023
-
Bad Bunny announces new album 'Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana,' including release date
-
Amtrak service disrupted after fire near tracks in New York City
-
Biden says 14 Americans killed by Hamas in Israel, U.S. citizens among hostages: Sheer evil
-
Lawsuit accuses officials in a Louisiana city of free speech violations aimed at online journalist
-
Everything Julia Fox Reveals About Dating Kanye West in Her Book Down the Drain