DA strong earthquake shook the East Asian island republic of Taiwan. According to the Taiwan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake on Wednesday morning had a magnitude of 7.2. The Japan Meteorological Agency even reported a magnitude of 7.5 for the earthquake. The US Earthquake Monitoring Center USGS reported that an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 hit the eastern part of Taiwan. As AFP news agency reporters reported, there were serious aftershocks on the island.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located southeast of Hualien Island in eastern Taiwan. According to eyewitnesses, the earthquake was also clearly felt in the capital of Taiwan, Taipei. In Japan, an earthquake near Taiwan triggered a three-meter tsunami warning for nearby islands in Okinawa, southwest Japan. Residents of the affected islands were urged to seek safety.
Taiwan was last hit by a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in September 1999. More than 2,400 people died during that time. Taiwan is located in an earthquake-prone zone on the border of the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate.