Destroyed Homes and Derailed Trains: Massive 7.2 Earthquake Devastates Taiwan
14:24 GMT 18.09.2022 (Updated: 12:45 GMT 19.06.2023)
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Emergency services rescued four people from under the rubble, as the tremor destroyed multiple building across the island. It also caused Japan to issue a tsunami warning, since the quake may result in one-meter-high waves hitting several prefectures.
A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake has hit Taiwan, ruining roads, derailing trains and resulting in the collapse of a bridge.
The quake was registered at 6:44 GMT. The center of the quake was 52.2 miles (86 kilometers) east of Yujing district at a depth of 6.2 miles, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Multiple photos were taken showing the aftermath of the disaster.
© AFP 2023 / Taitung County Fire BureauThis handout photo taken and released on September 18, 2022 by the Taitung County Fire Bureau shows firefighters moving a person during a rescue operation at the site of a collapsed building after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, in Yuli township, Hualien County. - A strong earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan on September 18, bringing at least three buildings down in a small town and tearing up roads -- but forecasters said the threat of a regional tsunami had passed.
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This handout photo taken and released on September 18, 2022 by the Taitung County Fire Bureau shows firefighters moving a person during a rescue operation at the site of a collapsed building after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, in Yuli township, Hualien County. - A strong earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan on September 18, bringing at least three buildings down in a small town and tearing up roads -- but forecasters said the threat of a regional tsunami had passed.
© AFP 2023 / Taiwan Railways AdministrationThis handout photo taken and released on September 18, 2022 by the Taiwan Railways Administration shows a derailed train after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, at Dongli Station in Hualien. - A strong earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan on September 18, bringing at least three buildings down in a small town and tearing up roads -- but forecasters said the threat of a regional tsunami had passed.

This handout photo taken and released on September 18, 2022 by the Taiwan Railways Administration shows a derailed train after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, at Dongli Station in Hualien. - A strong earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan on September 18, bringing at least three buildings down in a small town and tearing up roads -- but forecasters said the threat of a regional tsunami had passed.
© AP Photo / Hualien City GovernmentIn this photo provided by Hualien City Government, a trapped victim is carried on a stretcher as the victim was found and rescued by firefighters from a collapsed building in Yuli township, Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. A strong earthquake shook much of Taiwan on Sunday, toppling at least one building and trapping two people inside and knocking part of a passenger train off its tracks at a station.

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© AP Photo / Hualien City Government
In this photo provided by Hualien City Government, a trapped victim is carried on a stretcher as the victim was found and rescued by firefighters from a collapsed building in Yuli township, Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. A strong earthquake shook much of Taiwan on Sunday, toppling at least one building and trapping two people inside and knocking part of a passenger train off its tracks at a station.
© AP Photo / Hualien County Fire DepartmentThis photo provided by Hualien County fire department show a collapsed residential building following earthquake in Yuli township in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. A 7-11 convenience store was at the first floor of the collapse building. A strong earthquake shook much of Taiwan on Sunday, toppling at least one building and trapping two people inside and knocking part of a passenger train off its tracks at a station.

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© AP Photo / Hualien County Fire Department
This photo provided by Hualien County fire department show a collapsed residential building following earthquake in Yuli township in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. A 7-11 convenience store was at the first floor of the collapse building. A strong earthquake shook much of Taiwan on Sunday, toppling at least one building and trapping two people inside and knocking part of a passenger train off its tracks at a station.
© AFP 2023 / Taitung County Fire BureauThis handout photo taken and released on September 18, 2022 by the Taitung County Fire Bureau shows firefighters during a rescue operation at the site of a collapsed building after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, in Yuli township, Hualien County. - A strong earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan on September 18, bringing at least three buildings down in a small town and tearing up roads -- but forecasters said the threat of a regional tsunami had passed.

This handout photo taken and released on September 18, 2022 by the Taitung County Fire Bureau shows firefighters during a rescue operation at the site of a collapsed building after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, in Yuli township, Hualien County. - A strong earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan on September 18, bringing at least three buildings down in a small town and tearing up roads -- but forecasters said the threat of a regional tsunami had passed.
© AP Photo / Hualien City GovernmentIn this photo provided by Hualien City Government, firefighters are seen at a collapsed building during a rescue operation following an earthquake in Yuli township, Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. A strong earthquake shook much of Taiwan on Sunday, toppling at least one building and trapping two people inside and knocking part of a passenger train off its tracks at a station.

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© AP Photo / Hualien City Government
In this photo provided by Hualien City Government, firefighters are seen at a collapsed building during a rescue operation following an earthquake in Yuli township, Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. A strong earthquake shook much of Taiwan on Sunday, toppling at least one building and trapping two people inside and knocking part of a passenger train off its tracks at a station.
© AFP 2023 / Taiwan Railways AdministrationThis handout photo taken and released on September 18, 2022 by the Taiwan Railways Administration shows a damaged train platform after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, at Dongli Station in Hualien. - A strong earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan on September 18, bringing at least three buildings down in a small town and tearing up roads -- but forecasters said the threat of a regional tsunami had passed.

This handout photo taken and released on September 18, 2022 by the Taiwan Railways Administration shows a damaged train platform after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, at Dongli Station in Hualien. - A strong earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan on September 18, bringing at least three buildings down in a small town and tearing up roads -- but forecasters said the threat of a regional tsunami had passed.
© AP Photo / Hualien County Fire DepartmentThis photo provided by Hualien County fire department show firefighters in the search for trapped victims in a collapsed residential building following earthquake in Yuli township in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. A strong earthquake shook much of Taiwan on Sunday, toppling at least one building and trapping two people inside and knocking part of a passenger train off its tracks at a station.

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© AP Photo / Hualien County Fire Department
This photo provided by Hualien County fire department show firefighters in the search for trapped victims in a collapsed residential building following earthquake in Yuli township in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. A strong earthquake shook much of Taiwan on Sunday, toppling at least one building and trapping two people inside and knocking part of a passenger train off its tracks at a station.