A devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Hualien County in the Taiwan region Wednesday morning, claiming at least nine lives and injuring hundreds – marking the strongest tremor since 1999's deadly 7.6 quake. 🌏 The quake, occurring at 7:58 a.m. local time at a shallow depth of 12 km, sent shockwaves across the island and triggered rockslides in mountainous areas.
Critical Situation Unfolds
Over 80,000 households remain without power, while rescue teams scramble to reach trapped residents in partially collapsed buildings. Local authorities confirmed one hotel and multiple structures now tilt dangerously, creating scenes that could rival a disaster movie. 📱💬 Social media flooded with videos of swaying skyscrapers and terrified commuters fleeing metro stations.
Regional Impact & Response
The China Earthquake Networks Center warned of potential aftershocks exceeding magnitude 6.5, urging residents to avoid unstable terrain. Meanwhile, coastal cities in Fujian province on the Chinese mainland reported tremors, with netizens joking darkly about their morning coffee being 'shaken, not stirred.' 🍵
As night falls, emergency crews continue search operations under floodlights – a race against time amplified by Netflix-esque suspense. Stay tuned for updates as this developing story unfolds.
