Taiwan earthquake: Hundreds trapped as 'terrifying' aftershocks hit

Ten people have died while 705 are trapped following Taiwan's 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

Thursday 4 April 2024 15:51, UK

Residents of the damaged building stand as a damaged building is being demolished following the earthquake, in Hualien, Taiwan April 4, 2024. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Image: Residents of a damaged building stand as it is being demolished. Pic: Reuters
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"Terrifying" aftershocks have led to people sleeping in tents as the search for missing people continues following Taiwan's strongest earthquake in 25 years.

The National Fire Agency said 11 people are missing and 705 remain trapped after the earthquake struck during rush hour on Wednesday.

The agency reported 688 of those trapped are from the Tianxiang Youth Activity Centre and the Silks Place Taroko hotel.

Ten people have died, four of whom were in Taroko National Park and were hit by falling rocks.

At least 1,099 people were injured after the quake struck in eastern Taiwan's Hualien county at 7.58am local time (12.58am UK time) on Wednesday.

A general view as workers carry out operations while on an elevated platform of a firefighting truck at the site where a building collapsed, following the earthquake, in Hualien, Taiwan April 4, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
Image: Pic: Reuters

Helicopters and drones have been deployed to continue to look for people trapped on the cross-island highway - which goes across a gorge and connects the east and west coast of Taiwan.

Authorities said supplies will be dropped to anyone they find in the gorge, who may have become stuck after visiting the popular tourist destination.

It comes after 77 people who were trapped underground in the Dachingshui and Jinwen tunnels in Hualien County were rescued. More than 30 people, the majority of whom are workers at the five-star Silks Place Taroko hotel, were also rescued on Thursday.

People carry merchandise and valuables from a bicycle store in a damaged building after the earthquake, in Hualien. Pic: Reuters
Image: People carry merchandise and valuables from a bicycle store in a damaged building after the earthquake. Pic: Reuters

Taiwan's earthquake monitoring agency said Wednesday morning's quake had a magnitude of 7.2 - while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.4 and Japan's meteorological agency 7.7.

The epicentre of the initial earthquake was about 11 miles southwest of Hualien and about 22 miles deep.

A 52-year-old who gave her name as Yu said "terrifying" aftershocks went on into the night, making her too scared to sleep in her house, which she described as a "mess".

A person stands in between tents set up in a school used as a shelter, following an earthquake, in Hualien, Taiwan April 3, 2024. REUTERS/Walid Berrazeg
Image: Tents set up for temporary accommodation. Pic: Reuters

She instead checked herself into a tent on a sports ground being used for temporary accommodation.

"The aftershocks were terrifying. It's non-stop. I do not dare to sleep in the house," she said.

Buildings have been seen balanced precariously at odd angles after the initial quake, while footage of a swimming pool shows a man in the water as the earthquake causes it to sway from side to side.

Read more:
Highway jolting up and down during quake
Rescue crews search earthquake rubble

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Taiwan earthquake triggers landslide
A firefighter works following the earthquake, in Hualien, Taiwan April 4, 2024. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Image: Pic: Reuters

Meanwhile there were concerns that the earthquake could lead to supply chain disruption of semiconductor chips from the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) - the main contract chipmaker for companies like Apple and Nvidia - after they briefly evacuated some of their factories.

While most facilities are not close to the epicentre, TSMC said on Wednesday work was expected to resume overnight after inspections had taken place.

Dan Hutcheson, vice chair at Canadian research firm TechInsights said: "When you look at the business side of it - will this affect quarterly revenues? - the odds are it won't. But it's going to be a real headache for everyone involved to get this stuff back up and running."

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