A strong earthquake of 6.9 magnitude hits Taiwan.

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit the Southeastern coast of Taiwan on Sunday. The quake struck at 2:44 p.m. (0644 GMT) about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of the city of Taitung at a depth of 10 kilometres, the US Geological survey said.

Initially, USGS said the strength of the earthquake was 7.2-magnitude but later said it was a 6.9-magnitude quake.

While, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, the epicenter was monitored at 23.05 degrees north latitude and 121.21 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

According to reports, a three-story building collapsed in the town of Yuli, and about 400 tourists were trapped on a mountainside due to a landslide. Also, more than 7,000 households reported power cuts and water pipes damaged in Yuli.

Another report was of a bridge collapse on a two-lane road where three people and one or more vehicles may have fallen off.

Further, the Taiwan Railways Administration said, debris from a falling platform canopy at Dongli station in Fuli town, which is between Yuli and the epicenter at Chishang, struck a passing train, which led to the derailing of six cars. Fortunately, none of the 20 passengers were injured.

Tremors were also felt at the north of the island in the capital, Taipei, and also in coastal areas including Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Shanghai.

The island was hit by a 6.5 magnitude quake on the previous day, Saturday at 9:41 p.m. and there have been multiple tremors since then until the next morning, Sunday’s quake which was much stronger as well as damage to life and property.

According to the island’s meteorological agency, the 6.5-magnitude quake is the strongest one occurring in the epicenter area over the past 49 years, which was at a shallow depth on land and was thus felt across the island.

Reportedly, only one person lost his life and many injured in the natural calamity that hit the island on Sunday. The person who lost his life was a cement factory worker, died after he got hit by falling debris.

 Aftershocks to continue till weeks or even for a month, says Chan Chung-han, Earthquake Disaster & Risk Evaluation Centre.

Source-The Manila Times