Magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes off eastern Taiwan

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Taiwan has been hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake off its eastern coast. The entire island was given a good shake, with some severe damage already reported in Hualien County.

We will be providing live updates here on the earthquake and its impact for the rest of the morning and into the afternoon.

Taipei, April 3 (CNA) A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien County in eastern Taiwan at 7:58 am Wednesday, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

The epicenter of the temblor was located in the Pacific Ocean, 25.0 kilometers south-southeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 15.5 km, according to the administration’s Seismology Center.

The CWA said the strong quake has caused changes in water levels off the coast.

The earthquake’s intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, was highest in Hualien, where it measured a 6+ on Taiwan’s 7-tier intensity scale, the CWA said.

An intensity level of 5+ was reported in Yilan County in the northeast and in Miaoli County in the north, while 5- was reported in Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City and Hsinchu County in the north, Taichung City, Changhua County and Nantou County in central Taiwan, the CWA added.

People around Taiwan felt the intensity of the strong earthquake.

Due to the temblor, metro systems in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung have been suspended and the suspension is expected to last 40 to 60 minutes.