Earthquake in Taiwan leaves 9 dead and more than 700 injured

Two large-magnitude earthquakes shook Asia this Tuesday, directly impacting Taiwan and putting Japan on alert. The first, recorded in Taiwan with magnitude 7.5 on the Richter scale, followed by a second with magnitude 6.5, marked the most violent seismic episode in 25 years, leaving a toll of at least nine deaths and more than 700 injuries, according to Gdacs, a global alert body linked to the European Commission and the UN.

The Taiwanese government and fire crews told Reuters that, in addition to the fatalities and injuries, around 50 people were trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings and tunnels. The severity of the earthquake led to tsunami warnings being triggered in neighboring nations such as Japan, the Philippines and mainland China, although they were later cancelled.

Reports indicate that parts of Taipei, the Taiwanese capital, were left without electricity, and the local press published images of destruction in Hualien, in the south of the country, where buildings collapsed and there are reports of people trapped under the rubble. In China, the earthquake was felt strongly, especially in Fujian province, causing alarm among the population.

Amid the chaos, testimonies on social media showed the population’s panic, with videos capturing the moment when structures swayed dangerously. One of the videos shows the despair of witnesses when they saw a landslide, while another records the interruption of a live television broadcast due to the tremors caused by the earthquake.

Brazilian students in Taiwan reported the terrifying experience. A student, who was on her way to college, said that she did not feel the first shock, but was surprised by the subsequent tremors. Taiwan Normal University, where she studies, closed its doors and canceled classes in response to the emergency.

Brazilian diplomat Miguel Magalhães described the earthquake as terrifying, highlighting the intensity of the experience for those living on high floors of buildings. According to him, the Brazilian community on the island remained safe, with no reports of injuries or deaths.

The impact of the earthquake was not limited to human and structural damage. TSMC, a semiconductor manufacturing giant in Taiwan, has suspended operations at several of its factories.

The affected region, known as the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is notorious for its high seismic activity. This event shows the vulnerability of densely populated and industrialized areas to natural disasters, highlighting the importance of preparing and responding quickly to emergencies.