Rescue operations proceed into the night time, with greater than 100 individuals nonetheless trapped
Rescue operations proceed into the night time as greater than 100 individuals stay trapped in tunnels and in collapsed buildings round Hualien county, close to the epicentre of the 7.2-magnitude quake.
About 70 individuals trapped in tunnels close to Hualien metropolis have been evacuated, Taiwan’s nationwide fireplace company stated.
However authorities misplaced contact with 50 staff aboard our minibuses heading to a resort within the Taroko Gorge nationwide park, it stated.
No less than 64 individuals have been trapped in a single rock quarry, and 6 in one other, the hearth company stated.
Key occasions
Taiwan’s president-elect and vice-president, Lai Ching-te, has thanked the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, for his assist and condolences.
Posting to social media, Lai wrote:
Taiwan attracts energy out of your solidarity & friendship throughout this tough time and deeply appreciates the assist from the EU.
Rescue operations proceed into the night time, with greater than 100 individuals nonetheless trapped
Rescue operations proceed into the night time as greater than 100 individuals stay trapped in tunnels and in collapsed buildings round Hualien county, close to the epicentre of the 7.2-magnitude quake.
About 70 individuals trapped in tunnels close to Hualien metropolis have been evacuated, Taiwan’s nationwide fireplace company stated.
However authorities misplaced contact with 50 staff aboard our minibuses heading to a resort within the Taroko Gorge nationwide park, it stated.
No less than 64 individuals have been trapped in a single rock quarry, and 6 in one other, the hearth company stated.
The US is monitoring the earthquake in Taiwan and is “prepared to supply any vital help”, a US nationwide safety council spokesperson has stated.
An announcement from NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson reads:
We’re monitoring studies of the earthquake impacting Taiwan and proceed to watch its potential influence on Japan. The USA stands prepared to supply any vital help. All these affected are in our prayers.
One reporter in Taiwan who was heading north in direction of Hualien after darkish on Wednesday night native time, got here throughout enormous holes within the highway brought on by the earthquake from that morning.
Nathaniel Taplin posted footage moments in the past.
In the meantime TV channel TVBS posted a clip of rescue staff attempting to clear particles in Hualien, the place the earthquake hit hardest.
One individual caught up within the earthquake described watching a warehouse crumple like a home of playing cards on Wednesday and informed the Agence France-Presse company it “was like a mountain collapsed”.
And that was in New Taipei Metropolis, close to the capital, Taipei, virtually 190 miles (300km) from the toughest hit space of Hualien in east central Taiwan.
The witness, named by AFP solely as Liu, watched intently as rescuers fastidiously picked their manner via the stays of the warehouse.
Propping ladders towards the particles, the rescue staff managed to pluck greater than 50 survivors from the destroyed constructing in New Taipei Metropolis. The constructing was about 60 years previous and had housed a printing press, stated Liu, who lived subsequent door.
Residents of close by buildings gave the impression to be unaffected, although they felt the extraordinary shaking from the morning quake.
Most of the decorations at dwelling fell on the ground, however individuals have been protected. We have been very fortunate,” stated Chang, who lives close to the printing press.
New Taipei Metropolis mayor Hou Yu-ih surveyed the scene with rescue staff, and informed reporters that each one 57 individuals within the constructing had made it out – with only one injured.
Abstract
It has simply handed 11pm in Taipei and Hualien.
Here’s a fast abstract of a few of the key occasions to date at the moment:
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No less than 9 individuals are actually reported to have been killed in Taiwan’s earthquake. No less than one other 900 have been injured.
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The earthquake struck at 7:58 am native time, about 18km south-southwest of Hualien. It was about 35 km (21 miles) deep, in line with Related Press
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Taiwan’s electrical energy operator – Taipower- has stated greater than 87,000 individuals throughout the nation are actually with out energy, in line with the Reuters information company.
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Individuals are trapped in collapsed buildings in Taiwan’s metropolis of Hualien in line with native media and the native authorities has suspended faculties and courses within the area.
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A witness has informed the Reuters information company that the earthquake was additionally felt in Shanghai, China. Chinese language state media additionally reported that it was felt in Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Ningde in China’s Fujian province.
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No less than 64 individuals have been trapped in a single rock quarry, not a coalmine as was beforehand reported, and 6 in one other, the hearth company stated.
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Authorities additionally misplaced contact with 50 individuals in minibuses after a robust earthquake quake downed cellphone networks, Taiwan’s nationwide fireplace company stated.
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The Philippines seismology company has issued a tsunami warning as properly after that sturdy Taiwan quake, with Philippine coastal areas fronting the Pacific Ocean anticipated to expertise “excessive tsunami waves”, in line with the Reuters information company. The tsunami warning issued by the Philippine authorities pertains to individuals in coastal areas of the next provinces: the Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Isabela.
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The Philippines’ seismology company later cancelled its tsunami warning, saying “primarily based on accessible knowledge of our sea degree monitoring stations going through the epicentral space, no vital sea degree disturbances have been recorded since 07:58am up till this cancellation.”
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Japan’s nationwide broadcaster has issued an evacuation order – broadcasting warnings similar to “Tsunami is coming. Please evacuate instantly,” an anchor on NHK stated. “Don’t cease. Don’t return”. This was later downgraded to advisory because the tsunami waves that had arrived by late morning weren’t as excessive as forecast.
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A tsunami advisory has been issued in southern Japan after a robust earthquake struck close to Taiwan on Wednesday morning, in line with Japan’s meteorological company (JMA). This was later lifted.
Listed below are some extra footage displaying the injury brought on by the earthquake:
No less than 64 individuals have been trapped in a single rock quarry, not a coalmine as was beforehand reported, and 6 in one other, the hearth company stated.
The quake and aftershocks additionally induced 24 landslides and injury to 35 roads, bridges and tunnels, AP studies.
Right here is the most recent report from our video workforce on the earthquake in Taiwan. Footage launched by the hearth division there exhibits emergency personnel strolling via darkish corridors whereas going door to door and calling out to residents.
In accordance with a report from Related Press, Taiwan’s nationwide fireplace company seems to have confirmed that 70 miners are trapped in two coalmines in Hualien County after the earthquake.
Sixty-four individuals have been trapped in a single coalmine, and 6 individuals have been in a distinct mine, AP studies the company stated.
Extra particulars quickly …
Here’s a clip of CCTV footage which exhibits a multi-storey constructing collapsing on a busy road in Hualien as Taiwan was hit by its strongest earthquake in 25 years.