Tsunami warning issued in Taiwan-Philippines-Japan

A major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck Taiwan’s eastern coast Wednesday, according to the US Geological Survey, the strongest to hit the island in 25 years.

The quake hit at 7:58 a.m. local time 18 kilometers (11 miles) south of Hualien city and at a depth of 34.8 kilometers (21 miles), USGS said. It was followed by several strong aftershocks with tremors felt across the island, including by CNN staff in Taipei.

Reports of preliminary damage have emerged, with people trapped in collapsed buildings in Hualien County, thousands of homes left without power and a major highway along the island’s east coast shut to traffic due to major damage from landslides and rockfalls, according to Taiwanese officials.

Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration spokesperson warned that powerful aftershocks as high as magnitude 7 are expected to occur until the end of the week.

The quake prompted tsunami warnings in Taiwan, southern Japan and the Philippines, with waves less than half a meter observed along some coasts, and prompting airlines to suspend flights. The tsunami warning in Japan was later lifted, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
(Inputs taken from agencies)