A devastating earthquake hit Taiwan, claiming four lives and injuring nearly 60 individuals while causing significant damage to numerous buildings. The quake, among the strongest in Taiwan in years, triggered tsunami warnings reaching Japan and the Philippines, although these were later lifted. Officials, including Wu Chien-fu from Taipei's Central Weather Administration's Seismology Center, cautioned about potential aftershocks following the main tremor.

Fortunately, Taiwan's stringent building codes and heightened disaster preparedness helped mitigate the impact, preventing a more extensive catastrophe. The island, prone to seismic activity due to its location near tectonic plate boundaries, experienced its most powerful quake since the deadly 1999 7.6-magnitude event that claimed thousands of lives.

The recent magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck close to land, with its epicenter located south of Hualien City. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a depth of 34.8 kilometers for the quake, which occurred around 8:00 am local time.

A devastating earthquake hit Taiwan, claiming four lives and injuring nearly 60 individuals while causing significant damage to numerous buildings. The quake, among the strongest in Taiwan in years, triggered tsunami warnings reaching Japan and the Philippines, although these were later lifted. Officials, including Wu Chien-fu from Taipei's Central Weather Administration's Seismology Center, cautioned about potential aftershocks following the main tremor.

Fortunately, Taiwan's stringent building codes and heightened disaster preparedness helped mitigate the impact, preventing a more extensive catastrophe. The island, prone to seismic activity due to its location near tectonic plate boundaries, experienced its most powerful quake since the deadly 1999 7.6-magnitude event that claimed thousands of lives.

The recent magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck close to land, with its epicenter located south of Hualien City. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a depth of 34.8 kilometers for the quake, which occurred around 8:00 am local time.