HUALIEN, TAIWAN - APRIL 3: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY MANDATORY CREDIT - 'HUALIEN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) The Uranus Building...HUALIEN, TAIWAN - APRIL 3: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY MANDATORY CREDIT - 'HUALIEN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) The Uranus Building at Xuanyuan Road is tilted severely as at least four people were killed and hundreds of others injured after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off Taiwan's eastern coast on the Richter scale, in Hualien, Taiwan on April 3, 2024. The building tilted at an angle of more than 60 degrees, and one person is still missing. The police immediately went to the rescue after receiving the report. (Photo by Hualien County Fire Department/Anadolu via Getty Images)MORE LESS
On Wednesday morning, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Taiwan’s east coast during the morning rush hour. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing and have so far reported 9 people dead and about 900 injured. The quake caused landslides and damaged roads, bridges and tunnels. There is also substantial damage to both residential and business buildings. Taiwan experiences regular earthquakes, however the last one with comparable strength was a 7.7 magnitude in 1999.
Assessing damage to a community building
Taoyuan City Deputy Mayor Su Junbin inspects the Sanyuanjidi Community Building and Dazhi Citizen Activity Center in Bade District as at least four people were killed and hundreds of others injured during a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, which struck off Taiwan’s eastern coast on April 3, 2024. (Photo by Taoyuan City Government/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Damage to an elevated track for the New Taipei metro
An elevated track for the New Taipei Metro is damaged following an earthquake on April 3, 2024 in New Taipei, Taiwan. A major earthquake has hit the east coast of Taiwan with a magnitude of 7.3, the strongest on the island in 25 years. (Photo by Yang Chengchen/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)
Large crack appears in the road
Roads cracks at Taipingshan Park due to the earthquake. Taipingshan Park will be closed for days due to cracks in the road. (Photo by Yilan Forestry & Nat. Cons. Agency/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Falling rocks from the hillside obstruct traffic
Rocks lay on the road and stop the traffic after falling off from a cliff. (Photo by Annabelle Chih/Getty Images)
Rocks from a landslide completely blocking a road
A view of rocks that fell and blocked a road. The Guguan Works Section sent out machines and tools to open the area, and called on people who wanted to enter the mountainous area to pay attention to the road conditions. (Photo by Taichung City Fire Department/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Falling rocks severly damage vehicles
A small passenger vehicle is seriously damaged after being hit by falling rocks on Zhonghengbian Road. (Photo by Guguan Public Works Section/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The Uranus Building is severely tilted after a quake
The red building, called the Uranus Building, is partially collapsed. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Rescuers work at a partially collapsed building
Rescuers work at a partially collapsed building. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Rescue work at a partially collapsed building
Rescuers work at the partially collapsed building. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Rescue workers searching the collapsed Uranus Building
A frame grab from a video taken on April 3, 2024 shows rescue workers searching for survivors at the damaged Uranus Building in Hualien. (Photo by STR/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)
Another view of the Uranus Building
The Uranus Building at Xuanyuan Road is tilted severely, at an angle of more than 60 degrees, and one person is still missing. The police immediately went to the rescue after receiving the report. (Photo by Hualien County Fire Department/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Fire department workers search a collapsed building
Kaohsiung Fire Department staff search inside a building. (Photo by Kaohsiung Fire Department/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Fire department workers carrying out search and rescue operations
Fire fighters carry out search and rescue operations among the rubble. (Photo by Ministry of Interior / Handout /Anadolu via Getty Images)
Suspended train services cause large crowds in Shenzhen North Railway Station
Passengers wait at the waiting hall of Shenzhen North Railway Station on April 3, 2024 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province of China. (Photo by Chen Wen/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)
Cracked wall of a residential building
Walls of residential buildings crack after a powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the entire island on April 3, 2024 in Hualien County, Taiwan. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Christine Frapech
is TPM's designer and event planner based in New York.
