Taiwan hit by strongest quake in 25 years; 7 killed, over 700 injured

At least seven people were killed and more than 700 injured when a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan on Wednesday, the strongest in 25 years.
Four people died in the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern district of Hualien, where the center is located, the Taiwanese government said.
The fire department said 77 people were trapped, some in collapsed buildings in Hualien. He also said that more than 100 buildings were damaged.
Taiwanese television showed images of buildings in precarious corners in the offshore city of Hualien, where the quake struck at 8 a.m. (0000GMT) as people walked to work and school.
The quake struck at a depth of 15.5 km (9.6 miles) off the east coast, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Agency.
“It’s very strong,” said Chang Yu-lin, 60, a staff member at a Taipei hospital. “It’s like a house about to collapse,” he said.
President-elect Lai Ching-te, who will take office next month, will visit Hualien on Wednesday, the president’s office said.
The video showed rescuers using ladders to reach people through windows, while other areas were hit by strong mudslides caused by the earthquake.
The Japan Meteorological Agency, which measured the earthquake’s magnitude at 7.7, said several tsunami waves reached parts of the southern prefecture of Okinawa.
The Philippine Seismological Service issued a warning to residents in the coastal areas of several provinces and asked them to evacuate to higher ground.
Taiwan issued a tsunami warning but reported no damage, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said the threat of a tsunami wave had passed.
Power operator Taipower said the island’s two nuclear power plants were unaffected by the tremors, saying most power had been restored.
Taiwan’s high-speed rail operator reported no damage or injuries to its train, but said the train would be delayed while investigations were carried out.
Semiconductor giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a major supplier to Apple and Nvidia, said it had evacuated several production facilities and that security systems were operating normally.
“To ensure the safety of employees, some fabs have been evacuated in accordance with the company’s operations. We are now confirming the details of the impact,” he said.
It added that the refugees have returned to their workplaces.
Taiwan’s main share index .TWII fell 0.6%, largely off the quake’s impact. TSMC shares fell 1.3% in Taipei.
Taiwan’s official Central News Agency said the quake, the island’s biggest since 1999, killed nearly 2,400 people and caused the collapse or damage of 50,000 buildings in one of Taiwan’s worst earthquakes.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, most concrete block walls collapse in earthquakes greater than 6, leaving people unable to stand or move.