This morning (April 3), Taiwan experienced a significant earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, striking around 7:58 AM in Hualian. The tremor was felt throughout the entire country, as reported by Sin Chew. Following the quake, MRT train services were promptly halted.

Immediate evacuations took place as people fled buildings, and social media platforms were inundated with images of collapsed structures, underscoring the quake's severity. Numerous strong aftershocks followed the initial tremor.

Subsequently, Taiwan's Central Weather Administration issued a red tsunami alert for Taiwan and China, warning of waves potentially reaching heights of up to 3 meters (10 feet). In Japan, the local Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami alert for the southern Miyakojima and Okinawa islands.

This earthquake marked the most powerful to hit Taiwan in 25 years, with its impact extending to parts of Japan and China. The Defense Ministry of Taiwan reported houses in Hualien district tilting and sustaining damage. Military personnel have been deployed for disaster relief efforts, and schools and workplaces suspended operations as aftershocks continued.

CNN noted that in 1999, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck 93 miles (150 kilometers) south of Taipei, resulting in 2,400 fatalities and 10,000 injuries. Furthermore, in 2013, a magnitude 6.2 quake struck near Hualien, causing at least 17 deaths and 300 injuries.