An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richer scale struck Taitung County in southeastern Taiwan on Saturday, with no casualties so far, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami warning.
According to the Central Bureau of Meteorology of the Island, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 7 kilometers at 2:44 p.m., local time (07:44 a.m. in Lisbon), after another earthquake of 6.4 and several secondary tremors that would have affected the area on Saturday.
The United States Geological Survey (USGC) said the east coast of Taiwan was hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami warning.
The earthquake occurred 42 kilometers from the city of Taitung, which felt the magnitude 6 tremor, according to the same source.
Taiwan sits at the confluence of the Philippine and Eurasian plates, so earthquakes are frequent on the island.
According to Taiwanese media, a two-story residential building collapsed near the epicenter. The earthquake was also felt in the far north of the island, in the capital, Taipei.
Following the Taiwan earthquake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning of up to one meter that would hit several islands in southern Japan.
Weather officials urged residents of these areas to stay away from the coast.
The agency said the first waves could hit Yonaguni Island, Japan’s westernmost island, about 250 kilometers northeast of Taitung, at 4:10 p.m. local time (8:10 a.m. in Lisbon), and three later nearby islands.
Source: TSF
