Destroyed Homes and Derailed Trains: Massive 7.2 Earthquake Devastates Taiwan

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.

1 / 8

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.

2 / 8

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.

3 / 8

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.

4 / 8

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.

5 / 8

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.

6 / 8

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.

7 / 8

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.

8 / 8

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.