An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 hit Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, on Wednesday morning, the Taiwan central weather administration said.
The strong quake knocked out power in several parts of the city, according to a Reuters witness. Soon after the earthquake hit, a tsunami alert was issued in Japan.
It is not yet clear whether the earthquake caused any damage or loss of life in Taiwan yet. Japan’s meteorological agency forecast a tsunami of up to 3 meters (9.8 feet).
The country also issued an evacuation advisory for the coastal areas near the southern prefecture of Okinawa soon after the strong earthquake triggered a tsunami warning.
Television showed buildings in the eastern city of Hualien shaken off their foundations. Islandwide train service was suspended, as was subway service in Taipei. The quake struck at 7:58 a.m. on the other side of the island from the capital, but was strong enough to knock items off shelves in the city.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency gave the magnitude as 7.2 while the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.5. The depth was about 35 kilometers (21 miles).
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast a tsunami of up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) for the southern Japanese island group of Okinawa. A wave of 30 centimeters (about 1 feet) was detected on the coast of Yonaguni island about 15 minutes after the quake struck. JAMA said waves likely also hit the coasts of Miyako and Yaeyama islands.
(With inputs from agencies)
