Taipei Struck by 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake; Tsunami Alert Issued in Japan

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale rocked Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, on Wednesday morning, as reported by the Taiwan Central Weather Administration. The temblor caused widespread power outages in various parts of the city, according to a witness cited by Reuters.

Following the seismic activity, Japan issued a tsunami alert. Although the extent of damage or casualties in Taiwan remains uncertain, Japan’s meteorological agency warned of potential tsunamis reaching heights of up to 3 meters (9.8 feet). As a precautionary measure, Taiwan issued an evacuation advisory for coastal areas near the southern prefecture of Okinawa shortly after the earthquake.

Footage aired on television depicted buildings in Hualien, an eastern city, swaying violently, with some structures even shaking off their foundations. Train services across the island were halted, and subway operations in Taipei were suspended. Despite the epicenter being on the opposite side of the island from the capital, the quake’s intensity was sufficient to dislodge items from shelves in Taipei. While Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency assessed the magnitude as 7.2, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded it as 7.5, with a depth of approximately 35 kilometers (21 miles).

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for the southern Japanese island group of Okinawa, anticipating waves of up to 3 meters. Approximately 15 minutes after the quake, a 30-centimeter (about 1-foot) wave was detected on the coast of Yonaguni island. JAMA suggested that waves likely impacted the shores of Miyako and Yaeyama islands as well.