QUAKE SHOCK: The US authorities warn against a Tsunami after powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan.
The powerful earthquake that jolted much of Taiwan on Sunday knocked part of a passenger train off its tracks at a station and overturned at least one structure, trapping roughly two people inside.
The island’s southeast coast has been shaken by dozens of earthquakes, the greatest of which was a magnitude 6.8 tremor on Saturday evening. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, the epicenter was in the town of Chishang at a relatively shallow depth of 7 kilometers (4 miles).
According to the island’s Central News Agency, a three-story structure in the neighboring town of Yuli that had apartments on the upper floors and a 7-11 convenience store on the ground floor fell. Two persons were rescued, and rescuers were in contact with two others who remained stranded.
The top two levels of the structure could be seen spread across and onto the opposite side of a small roadway, with power cables being dragged down by the structure.
According to the Central News Agency, one or more automobiles may have fallen over a bridge that collapsed on a two-lane road in what seemed to be a rural area of Yuli.
According to the agency, which cited the railway administration, a train was struck by a canopy on a platform at Dongli station in Fuli town, which is halfway between Yuli and the earthquake’s epicenter near Chishang. Three of the train’s cars were left tilted at an angle. Even the island’s capital, Taipei, towards the north end, felt the trembling.
