Photo: USGS
At least nine people have died and more than 900 others were injured in relation to a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Taiwan Wednesday (April 3), CNN reports.
The natural disaster was located in Hualien City and centered at a depth of 34.8 kilometers (21.6 miles) and was the strongest to hit the country in 25 years. The mainshock was followed by an initial 6.4 aftershock that took place 13 minutes later, as well as 29 total measuring above 4.0 magnitude, according to the United States Geological Survey.
More than 100 buildings were damaged and landslides were caused by the earthquake, which has left dozens trapped as rescue efforts continue.
"Eastern Taiwan has several faults & includes a plate boundary, which can produce damaging earthquakes of magnitude 7 or larger. In the last 50 years, 6 other M7+ earthquakes occurred within 155 miles/250 km of today’s earthquake," the USGS said on its X account.
Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines have all since called off prior tsunami warnings issued after the earthquake was initially reported.
The Taiwan earthquake occurred hours after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the Northern Mariana Islands region on Tuesday. The natural disaster was located northeast of Saipan in the Pacific Ocean and centered at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles). Last week, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Vanuatu region. The natural disaster was located east of Australia in the Pacific Ocean and centered at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles).
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake had previously struck Vanuatu in December. The natural disaster was located about 76 miles south of the town of Isangel on the island of Tanna and centered at a depth of 30 miles.
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea on March 23. The natural disaster was located in Ambunti and centered at a depth of 35.4 kilometers (about 22 miles).