At least nine people have been confirmed dead and more than 800 injured on Wednesday, April 3, when an earthquake measuring 7.2 magnitude hit Taiwan.
The powerful earthquake was felt in Taiwan’s capital Taipei as well as in southern Japan, eastern China and the Philippines, leaving dozens of people trapped.
Officials said the quake and series of strong aftershocks were the strongest to shake the island in decades and warned of more tremors in the days ahead.
“The earthquake is close to land and it’s shallow. It’s felt all over Taiwan and offshore islands,” said Wu Chien-fu, director of Taipei’s Central Weather Administration’s Seismology Center.
Wu said the quake was the strongest since a 7.6-magnitude struck in September 1999, killing around 2,400 people in the deadliest natural disaster in the island’s history.