Strong earthquake hits Taiwan, and Japan issues tsunami warning

One 7.5 magnitude earthquake was recorded near Taiwan, this Wednesday, 3, local time. The tremor, which occurred on Ishigaki Island, reached an intensity of 4 on the Japanese scale that goes from 0 to 7. Because of the phenomenon, Japanese authorities issued a tsunami warning in two regions.

Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK, urges residents of the Okinawa region to leave their homes immediately and evacuate the area. The Miyako and Yaeyama islands are also points of interest.

The estimate is that the waves could reach 3 meters in height.

“People in affected areas should evacuate immediately. Escape to a safer, higher location right now. The tsunami’s arrival time is only an estimate. Waves may actually arrive sooner or later. Continue to evacuate while the alert is in effect”, says the broadcaster’s alert.

Buildings collapsed in earthquake

In Taiwan, images show buildings collapsing due to the force of the earthquake. There are reports that there were people inside some of them.

According to the newspaper The Guardian, the United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.4, with an epicenter 18 km south of the city of Hualien, Taiwan, and at a depth of 34.8 km. And Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency reported a magnitude of 7.2.

Following the earthquake, the Philippine seismology agency also issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas facing the Pacific Ocean. People in coastal areas of several provinces were advised to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move inland.

Source: Redação Terra