Taiwan earthquake: A look at the damage as rescuers search for missing people – National

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is “ready” to help Taiwan as it recovers from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that rocked the Asian island nation.

The earthquake, which was the largest in Taiwan in at least 25 years, killed at least nine people and injured more than 900 others on Wednesday. Authorities said 50 hotel workers went missing on their way to a national park, while rescuers used ladders to transport others to safety.

“Canada stands ready to provide support and has reached out to Taiwanese officials,” Trudeau told reporters in Toronto on Wednesday.

“We are also participating to make sure affected Canadians get the support they need.”

A red building partially collapsed after a strong earthquake shook the entire island on April 3, 2024 in Hualien County, Taiwan. VCG via Getty Images

A spokesperson for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Bureau of Canada told Global News that two Canadians were among 12 people trapped on Sandimen Road along the Central Expressway across the island.

Story continues below ad

They added that the two Canadians – a man and a woman – were rescued. The woman was injured by falling rocks and received medical treatment at the scene before being transported to the hospital.

Global Affairs Canada updated its travel advice for Taiwan on Wednesday, warning of aftershocks and urging Canadians in the country to be cautious.

01:52 Taiwan earthquake: Rescuing trapped victims is a “top priority”

Images taken by news photographers and television cameras showed buildings tilted at precarious angles, rubble blocking mountain roads, and neighborhood infrastructure completely destroyed.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world delivered to your inbox as soon as it happens.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 15.5 kilometers on Wednesday morning, while people were heading to work and schools, triggering a tsunami warning in southern Japan and the Philippines, which was later lifted.

A video clip showed rescuers using ladders to help trapped people get out of windows, while massive landslides occurred in other places. Strong tremors in Taipei forced the subway system to close briefly, although most lines resumed service.

Story continues below ad

A view of rocks that fell and blocked the road after an earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on the Richter scale, in Hualien, Taiwan on April 3, 2024. The Gaoguan Works Department sent machines and tools to open the area, and called on people who wanted to enter the mountainous area to pay attention to the condition of the road. Taichung City Fire Department/Anatolia via Getty Images

Fire authorities said on Wednesday that they had evacuated about 70 people trapped in tunnels near the city of Hualien, including two Germans.

But they lost contact with 50 workers on board four minibuses heading to a hotel in a national park, and rescuers are searching for them. Reuters reported that another 80 people were trapped in a mine area, although it was not immediately clear whether they were inside a mine.

The government estimated the number of infected people at 946 as of Wednesday.

A vehicle on a collapsed road following an earthquake in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Taiwan was hit by the strongest earthquake in a quarter century, with shockwaves from the quake knocking dozens of buildings to the ground. East of the island, injuring more than 50 people and disrupting some chip production lines. Rong Xu/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Trending now

Health Canada is recalling several medical devices, including one that may cause death

The total solar eclipse is approaching. Here are 10 things to know

The Japan Meteorological Agency said that the magnitude of the earthquake reached 7.7, and said that several small tsunami waves had reached parts of southern Okinawa Prefecture, while it reduced its tsunami warning to a warning.

Story continues below ad

In the Philippines, earthquake officials warned residents of coastal areas in several provinces against moving to higher areas.

Chinese official media said that residents of the southeastern province of Fujian felt the earthquake, while a Reuters witness said that residents of Shanghai, the commercial center, also felt it.

Meteorological officials said aftershocks could still be felt in Taipei, where more than 50 tremors had been recorded as of Wednesday.

In this image from video footage broadcast by TVBS, residents rescue a child from a partially collapsed building in the eastern Taiwanese city of Hualien on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. A powerful earthquake shook the entire island of Taiwan early Wednesday, causing buildings in the area to collapse. South. The city created a tsunami that washed ashore on the islands of southern Japan. TVBS via AP

Electricity company Taipower said most electricity had been restored and Taiwan's two nuclear power plants were unaffected.

The official Central News Agency said that the earthquake was the largest since a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that occurred in 1999, killing about 2,400 people and destroying or damaging 50,000 buildings.

Taiwanese meteorological officials classified Wednesday's quake in the city of Hualien as a Category 6 upper, or the second-highest level of intensity on a scale of 1 to 7.

Story continues below ad

Firefighters conduct search and rescue operations in the rubble where at least nine people were killed and hundreds more injured after an earthquake struck off Taiwan's east coast in Hualien, Taiwan on April 3, 2024. Taiwan's strongest earthquake in a quarter-century shook the island during the morning peak on Wednesday , damaging buildings and causing a tsunami that washed ashore on the islands of southern Japan. Ministry of Interior/Bulletin/Anatolia via Getty Images

Experts say such earthquakes lead to the collapse of walls unless they are made of reinforced concrete blocks, while people cannot stand upright and have to crawl in order to move.

– With files from Reuters

&Copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos