An earthquake of significant magnitude struck off the eastern coast of Taiwan at approximately 5:28 a.m. Indian Standard Time on Wednesday. According to Taiwan’s weather authorities, the epicenter was located about 25 kilometers off the coast of Hualien County, with a depth of roughly 15 kilometers, and the magnitude was estimated to be 7.2. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued warnings of potential tsunami threats along Taiwan’s coastal areas near the epicenter. The seismic intensity of the quake was recorded as upper 6 in Hualien County, upper 5 in Yilan County, and lower 5 in Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Taichung City. Residents in coastal regions are urged by the Central Weather Bureau to stay alert for abrupt changes in sea levels.
