Taiwan: A 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the country’s east coast on Wednesday left one person dead and over fifty wounded, according to a Reuters story that referenced Taiwan’s fire service.
According to CNN, which cited Japan’s Meteorological Agency, a tsunami warning that was issued for the Japanese islands of Miyakojima and Okinawa in response to a strong earthquake in Taiwan has been lowered from a warning to an advisory.
A tsunami alert was issued.
People in the coastal provinces of Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Isabela are “strongly advised to immediately evacuate to higher grounds or move further inland,” according to the tsunami warning issued by the Philippines.
“High tsunami waves” are predicted for the coastal regions that face the Pacific Ocean, according to CNN. The first waves were predicted to arrive on Wednesday between 8:33 and 10:33 a.m. local time (8:33 and 10:33 p.m. ET on Tuesday).
Preventive Measures Are Being Taken
Boat owners have also been requested to secure their vessels and leave the waterfront area if their vessels are in harbours, estuaries, or shallow coastal water. Until further notice, boats that are currently at sea should remain offshore in deep seas, according to the alert.
All planes to Japan’s Naha Airport on Okinawa island have been redirected after a strong earthquake that shook Taiwan’s eastern coastlines on Wednesday, according to a representative for the airport who talked with CNN.
All employees have fled to the third floor of the airport building as a preventive measure against potential fatalities in the event of a tsunami, according to airport spokesperson Hideaki Tsurudo, who also informed CNN that no waves had reached the airport during the warning period.
Japanese Aircraft Suspended
Additionally, Japan Airlines reports that, due to tsunami warnings in the area, all flights from the Okinawa and Kagoshima areas of Japan have been stopped.
It said that flights that were scheduled to land in regions where there was a tsunami warning had been cancelled.
Southern Japan received tsunami advisories as a result of the earthquake near Taiwan.
Crucial Information About the Quake
According to the administration’s Seismology Centre, the epicentre of the earthquake was found in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 15.5 kilometres, 25.0 kilometres south-southeast of Hualien County Hall, Central News Agency said.
The Central Weather Agency reported an intensity level of 5+ in Yilan County in the northeast and in Miaoli County in the north, and 5 in Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, and Hsinchu County in the north, as well as Taichung City, Changhua County, and Nantou County in central Taiwan.
An estimated 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck just before 9 a.m. sent off the alarm. According to NHK, the epicentre of the earthquake was located close to Taiwan by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The Miyakojima-Yaeyama area is expected to see the tsunami around 9:30 a.m., while the Okinawa main island region is expected to see it at 10 a.m.
The Japan Meteorological Agency responded by alerting the people of Miyakojima and Okinawa islands of impending waves that might reach up to three metres, according to NHK.