A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan during the early morning hours of Wednesday, killing at least nine people and injuring hundreds. The earthquake is the strongest to hit Taiwan in 25 years.
The epicenter of the quake formed off the coast of rural Hualien County, according to CNN. Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines issued tsunami warnings following the disaster but have since canceled the alerts.
The quake has reportedly caused significant damage to infrastructure, causing buildings to lean and roadways to crumble. Resulting landslides damaged roads, bridges, and tunnels. Dozens of people have been reported missing, and six people were trapped in a coal mine, with rescue efforts in motion, according to WGN.
Nearly 1,000 people have been injured according to CNN, with the severity of the injuries varying.
Taiwan is regularly hit by earthquakes and is considered one of the best-prepared countries for earthquakes. The Southeast Asian nation enforces strict building codes and a world-class seismological network, according to Reuters.
A national security spokesperson told CNN that the Biden Administration is monitoring the disaster and is prepared to offer assistance.
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