Tsunami warning

Dead and injured after earthquake on Taiwan

Many houses collapsed during a severe earthquake on Taiwan.(Bild: AP)

At least four people have been killed and almost 60 others injured in a severe earthquake off the east coast of Taiwan. Taiwan's weather authority registered a magnitude of 7.2.

Power was cut in many places and local and long-distance transportation was interrupted. In addition, many houses collapsed and some people were still trapped in the rubble on Tuesday night. Other houses suffered severe damage. Several regions of the East Asian island republic of Taiwan, such as Hualien and New Taipei, were affected. Taiwan's major semiconductor manufacturer TSMC halted production and evacuated workers.

Many houses collapsed completely.(Bild: AP)

A destroyed house in Hualien(Bild: AP)

Emergency services searching for buried victims(Bild: AFP)

Evacuated kindergarten children(Bild: AFP)

According to eyewitnesses, the earthquake was also felt in various cities in mainland China, including Shanghai. Japan's government recommended that the coastal areas of the southern prefecture of Okinawa be evacuated. Tsunami waves up to three meters high were expected there following a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in the sea off Taiwan.

Filipinos told to leave coastal area
The Philippines also issued a temporary tsunami warning. High tsunami waves could last for hours. Residents of several provinces were urged to seek safety and leave the coastal areas. Boats should be moored, they said. Both warnings have since been lifted.

The Chinese government requested disaster relief from Taiwan. There are always tensions between the two states because the Chinese government considers the island to be part of its own territory, although Taiwan has had an independent and democratically elected government for decades. Taiwan is located in an earthquake-prone zone on the boundary of the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate.

Strongest quake since 1999
According to Taiwan's official news agency, the quake was the strongest on the island since 1999, when 2,400 people were killed and the magnitude was 7.6.