At least nine people have been killed and 77 people trapped across Taiwan after a powerful earthquake struck the island's eastern coast, CNN reported, citing the National Fire Agency.
The strongest earthquake in a quarter-century rocked Taiwan during the morning rush hour on Wednesday, killing nine people, trapping dozens of workers in two rock quarries and sending some residents scrambling out the windows of damaged buildings.
The quake, which also injured hundreds, was centred off the coast of rural, mountainous Hualien County, where some buildings leaned at severe angles, their ground floors crushed.
Just over 150 km away in the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and schools evacuated their students to sports fields, equipping them with yellow safety helmets.
Authorities did not elaborate on the condition of those trapped but said that rescue operations were underway.
The 7.4 magnitude quake has killed at least nine people and injured more than 700 others, according to NFA. Of those injured, 132 are in Hualien County, near the epicentre of the quake, the agency added.
Taiwan was struck by its strongest earthquake in 25 years on Wednesday when a 7.4 magnitude tremor struck the island's eastern coast, collapsing buildings, killing at least nine people and triggering tsunami warnings across the region that were later lifted, CNN reported.
The tsunami warnings also prompted airlines and airports to suspend flights, which were later resumed.
CNN reported that the powerful tremors that rocked Taiwan have damaged 125 buildings across the island, according to the National Fire Agency (NFA).
About half of the damaged buildings are in Hualien County, near the epicentre of the earthquake, according to local officials.
Four buildings in the county had partially collapsed, Hualien county magistrate Hsu Chen-wei said at a news conference Wednesday.
Residents from three of the buildings have been safely evacuated, while search and rescue operations continue at the nine-storey Uranus Building, which is leaning to the right after the ground floor collapsed, Hsu said, CNN reported.
Twenty-two people have been rescued from the Uranus Building, with efforts still underway to contact one remaining resident, according to the National Fire Agency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed anguish at the loss of lives in the Taiwan earthquake, and conveyed India's solidarity with the "resilient" people of the country.
He said on X, "Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to earthquakes in Taiwan today. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. We stand in solidarity with the resilient people of Taiwan as they endure the aftermath and recover from it."
The Taiwan foreign ministry appreciated the wishes by the countries across world and said that support strengthens their resolve.
Taking to X, the ministry said, "We appreciate the worldwide good wishes & prayers issued in the wake of the 7.2 earthquake & ongoing aftershocks. Support from allies & friends in moments of adversity touches our hearts & strengthens our resolve--#Taiwan stands strong as an #IslandOfResilience."
