7.2 magnitude earthquake east of Taiwan, tsunami warning issued in Japan!
Steph Deschamps / 18, 2022
A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.2 occurred Sunday, September 18 off the east coast of Taiwan, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGC) leading Japan to issue a tsunami warning.
The epicenter of the earthquake, which occurred shortly after 14:44 local, was located about 50 km north of the city of Taitung, at a depth of 10 km, said the USGC.
The power of the earthquake had been estimated at 7.2 by the USGS, which later downgraded it to 6.9. At least one building collapsed in the town of Yuli, according to the Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency.
A video released by the agency shows panicked residents running toward the building, which collapsed on itself in a thick cloud of dust.
Shocks were also felt in the capital Taipei, noted a journalist from AFP.
The day before, an earthquake of magnitude 6.6 had struck the same region and several tremors followed. However, the one on Sunday was by far the strongest.
The Japanese meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for the islands near Taiwan. Waves up to one meter high are expected around 4 p.m., it said.
The China Seismic Network Center said tremors were felt in coastal areas, including Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Shanghai.
Taiwan and its surroundings are regularly hit by earthquakes due to its location near the junction of two tectonic plates. The island is in a region of intense seismic activity due to its position on the Pacific "belt of fire".
The deadliest earthquake ever recorded in Taiwan, with a magnitude of 7.6, occurred in September 1999 and killed over 2,400 people.