A powerful magnitude-6.9 earthquake jolted Hualien County in China’s Taiwan region on Sunday afternoon, causing significant damage and leading to at least one death and over 140 injuries. The quake struck at 2:44 p.m. on September 18 at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.
The tremor was felt across the island, shaking buildings and disrupting transportation services. Emergency services responded swiftly to rescue those trapped and provide medical assistance to the injured. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, with several structures reported collapsed and infrastructure affected.
Residents of Taiwan are accustomed to seismic activity due to the region’s location along the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ but Sunday’s earthquake was one of the most significant in recent years. Local authorities have issued safety advisories, urging people to stay vigilant for aftershocks and to check for structural damages in their homes and workplaces.
Drone footage captured by a CGTN stringer provided a sobering aerial view of the earthquake’s epicenter, revealing the scale of the impact on Hualien County’s landscape and communities. The visual data is expected to assist emergency services and help coordinate relief efforts.
The earthquake has drawn attention to the importance of emergency preparedness in earthquake-prone regions. Scholars and researchers emphasize the need for robust infrastructure and community education to mitigate the effects of such natural disasters.
As Hualien County begins the recovery process, support from across the region highlights solidarity in times of crisis. Investors and business professionals are closely monitoring the situation, assessing potential impacts on Asian markets and economic activities in the Taiwan region.
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Aerial view of epicenter of quake in Taiwan region's Hualien
cgtn.com
