On Wednesday, April 3, Taiwan experienced its most severe earthquake in over two decades. Striking off the east coast in Hualien County at 7:58 am, the 7.4 magnitude tremor has led to significant loss and widespread panic.
The National Fire Agency of Taiwan has confirmed at least nine fatalities and over 1,000 injuries in the immediate aftermath, as rescue teams race against time to reach those still trapped beneath the rubble. Twenty-nine aftershocks over 4.0 hit the area around the epicenter after the quake.
Hualien County, known for its dense population and scenic landscapes, witnessed unprecedented devastation. More than 100 buildings have sustained damage; some collapsed, while others now stand at precarious angles, posing ongoing risks. The earthquake also caused massive landslides that blocked roads. Social media platforms have become a primary source for sharing the widespread destruction’s visuals, emphasizing the quake’s intensity.
Many people remain unaccounted for, trapped under rubble or in damaged infrastructure. Notably, 50 employees from the Silks Place Taroko Hotel, en route to the Taroko Gorge National Park—a popular tourist destination renowned for its natural beauty—were among those trapped. Efforts to rescue people trapped in the Jinwen and Dachingshui road tunnels in northern Hualien County are underway, with two German nationals already successfully extricated from another compromised tunnel.
Under the direction of President-elect Lai Ching-te, the Taiwanese government has prioritized rescue operations. The earthquake has also led to widespread power outages, affecting over 91,000 households. Initially, the seismic event triggered tsunami warnings across Taiwan, southern Japan, and the Philippines, disrupting flight operations and stirring fears of further calamities. These warnings were later withdrawn.
Hualien County, home to around 300,000 people, stands as the epicenter of this disaster. This earthquake marks the country’s most severe seismic event since a 7.6 magnitude quake in 1999 resulted in about 2,400 deaths. The aftermath of Wednesday’s quake saw a series of tremors across the island, even reaching the capital, Taipei, with more anticipated.