Taiwan earthquake HIGHLIGHTS: 9 dead, over 900 wounded and 100 trapped as rescue operations continue

Rescue operations continue into the night as more than 100 people remain trapped in tunnels and in collapsed buildings around Hualien county, near the epicentre of the 7.2-magnitude quake, the Guardian reported.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC), the chipmaking giant, said on Wednesday that its facilities which were impacted by the powerful earthquake are expected to resume production overnight, CNN reported.

Shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed solidarity with the people of quake-hit Taiwan, its President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday expressed deep gratitude to him for the support at the "challenging time", saying it means a "great deal" to the Taiwanese people.

Taiwanese authorities say 70 miners are trapped in 2 coal mines after a powerful earthquake rocked the island

The number of injuries from the earthquake that struck Taiwan on Wednesday has risen to 934, CNN reported citing Taiwan's National Fire Agency (NFA).

At least 131 people are currently trapped, including 50 employees of the Silks Place Hotel Taroko, who were traveling in four minibuses. Authorities have been unable to reach them by phone, and have listed them as trapped for the time being, reported CNN.

Taiwan's national fire agency says authorities have lost contact with 50 people in minibuses after a powerful earthquake downed phone networks.

Japan and the Philippines had issued tsunami advisories after Taiwan experienced its most powerful earthquake in 25 years on Wednesday. These warnings were lifted shortly afterwards by the meteorological agencies of the two countries, reported BBC.

At least four foreign nationals are trapped in Taiwan after the island was hit by its most powerful earthquake in 25 years on Wednesday, CNN reported citing the National Fire Agency (NFA).

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said her government was coordinating efforts to respond to Wednesday’s (April 3) earthquake, the strongest to hit the island in 25 years.

“The national army will also provide support. The central and local governments will cooperate with each other to minimize the impact of the disaster,” Tsai said during a briefing at the Central Emergency Operations Center.

Taiwan's government said seven people had died in the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien near where the epicentre was, with 711 injured.
The fire department said 77 people remained trapped, some in collapsed buildings in Hualien.

Taiwan's government said four people had died in the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien near where the epicentre was, with 711 injured. The fire department said 77 people remained trapped, some in collapsed buildings in Hualien.

A search for trapped residents is underway after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked Taiwan on Wednesday (April 3), the strongest tremor to hit the island in at least 25 years.
Emergency personnel walked through dark corridors while going door-to-door and calling out to residents in Hualien, footage released by the fire department showed. Photographs also showed rescuers standing outside a building tiled to a precarious angle.

A five-story building in 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 in some newer office complexes, while debris fell from some building sites. 

The local United Daily News reported three hikers died in rockslides in Taroko National Park near the offshore epicentre.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii or the US Pacific territory of Guam. About three hours after the earthquake, it said the threat had largely passed for all areas with waves being reported only in Taiwan and southern Japan.

Taiwan's government said on Wednesday that four people have died in a 7.2 magnitude earthquake which struck earlier in the day.

Despite the quake striking at the height of the morning rush hour just before 8 a.m., the initial panic faded quickly on the island that is regularly rocked by temblors and prepares for them with drills at schools and notices issued via public media and mobile phone.

Still, the earthquake was strong enough to scare people who are used to such shaking.

Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC 2330.TW said on Wednesday that all its personnel were safe, and those who were evacuated are beginning to return to their workplaces following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake earlier in the day.

The tsunami threat from a strong earthquake that struck Taiwan has largely passed. The Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded its forecast from 3 metres (9.8 feet) to 1 metre (3.3 feet). One island had a wave of about 30 centimetres (a foot), while smaller waves were detected in other islands. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said there has been no report of injury or damage in Japan. He urged the residents in the Okinawa region to stay on safe ground until all tsunami advisories were lifted.

 Taiwan's fire department said on Wednesday that so far one person had died and more than 50 were injured after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the island's east coast.

Buildings shook briefly in Taiwan's capital Taipei on Wednesday as an aftershock from a powerful earthquake earlier in the day hit the city.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said it was highly concerned with the earthquake that hit the island this morning and was willing to provide disaster relief assistance, according to Chinese state media on Wednesday.

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.

Train service was suspended across the island of 23 million people, as was subway service in Taipei. But things quickly returned to normal in the capital, with children going to school and the morning commute appearing to be normal.

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.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami wave of 30 cm (about 1 feet) was detected on the coast of Yonaguni island about 15 minutes after the quake struck. JAMA said waves likely also hit the coasts of Miyako and Yaeyama islands. Japan's Self Defence Force sent aircraft to gather information about the tsunami impact around the Okinawa region and were preparing shelters for evacuees if necessary.