Before the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on the morning of April 3, the island of Taiwan (China) had witnessed many natural disasters that claimed the lives of thousands of people.
The earthquake that hit Taiwan on the morning of April 3 was the strongest earthquake in the past 25 years on this island. According to Taiwanese officials, at least 7 people were killed, 77 people were believed to be trapped, and more than 700 others were injured. More than 100 buildings were damaged or partially collapsed.
CNN news agency reported that the earthquake was followed by strong aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 6.5. It is expected that Taiwan will experience many strong aftershocks up to magnitude 7 in the coming days. Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines later also canceled the tsunami warning.
Firefighters at the scene of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Hualien, Taiwan. Photo: Reuters
The earthquake epicenter was determined in Hualien district, home to about 300,000 people. The population in Taiwan is 23 million people.
Earthquakes have claimed the lives of thousands of people in Taiwan, according to a summary of the New York Times:
Taichung in 1935
According to the Taiwan Weather Administration, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake occurred near the island’s west coast in April 1935, killing more than 3,200 people. In addition, more than 12,000 other people were injured, and more than 50,000 homes were destroyed or damaged.
Tainan in 1941
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said that a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in December 1941 in southwestern Taiwan killed hundreds of people.
Chi-Chi in 1999
The 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Chi-Chi, central Taiwan, killed nearly 2,500 people in September 1999. According to the USGS and Taiwan Weather Administration, this earthquake occurred more than 140km from Taipei and was the second deadliest earthquake in the island’s history. In addition, more than 10,000 other people were injured, and more than 100,000 homes were destroyed or damaged.
Ngoc Tinh in 2016
A 6.4 magnitude earthquake in February 2016 caused a 17-story apartment building in the Yujing area of Tainan city, southwest Taiwan, to collapse and kill at least 114 people.
After that, the USGS said that 90 earthquakes of the above scale or larger had occurred within 250km of the earthquake location in Ngoc Tinh in the previous 100 years.