TAIPEI: A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 rocked near Taiwan, Wednesday morning (April 3), shortly before 9 am Japanese local time (7 am WIB).
Japan issued a tsunami warning to residents in coastal areas near the southern prefecture of Okinawa to evacuate immediately.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, a tsunami with a height of up to 3 meters is expected to reach Japan’s southwestern coast at around 10 am.
“Evacuate!” sounded the announcement on NHK television.
“A tsunami is coming. Please evacuate immediately,” said the host on NHK. “Don’t stop. Don’t come back.”
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicenter of the earthquake was 18km south of Hualien City, Taiwan, at a depth of 34.8km.
The strong quake knocked out power in several cities, an eyewitness told Reuters.
“A potential earthquake could trigger a tsunami that would affect Taiwan. A tsunami warning was issued to remind residents in coastal areas to remain alert,” said an emergency message issued by authorities.
Earthquakes are commonplace in Japan, one of the most seismically active countries in the world. Japan accounts for about a fifth of the world’s total earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.
