After a powerful earthquake struck near Hualien on Taiwan's east coast early Wednesday, rescue teams worked tirelessly to search through the rubble for missing or trapped individuals.
The quake, measured at 7.2 magnitude by Taiwan officials and 7.4 by the U.S. Geological Survey, resulted in the deaths of nine people and left over 1,000 injured.
The National Fire Agency in Taiwan reported that at least 1,050 people were injured in the quake, which occurred around 8 a.m. local time.
Hualien, situated 100 miles south of Taipei, experienced significant shaking, leading to some structural damage.
Following the main quake, a series of aftershocks, some as strong as 6.4 magnitude, continued to shake the region, posing additional risks to the ongoing search and rescue operations.
Despite the challenges, rescuers have managed to locate around two dozen of nearly 50 hotel workers who were reported missing.
Taiwan, a region prone to earthquakes, has well-developed search and rescue capabilities.
However, the task of identifying and recovering victims from under collapsed structures remains daunting, particularly amidst the aftershocks.
The earthquake also triggered a tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines, although this warning was later lifted.
The United States has offered assistance to Taiwan, with the White House monitoring the situation closely. Meanwhile, in Hualien, efforts to evacuate and demolish dangerous buildings are underway.
The earthquake's impact extended beyond Taiwan, with slight damages reported to six F-16 fighter jets in Taiwan's air force.
Despite these challenges, Taiwan's preparedness for earthquakes, including stringent building codes and effective risk reduction strategies, has helped mitigate the overall damage.