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A 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked Taiwan’s eastern coast April 3, collapsing buildings, causing landslides and prompting tsunami warnings. (Video: Julie Yoon/The Washington Post)

9 killed and 963 injured in Taiwan after 7.4-magnitude quake

1 min

TAIPEI, Taiwan— A 7.4-magnitude earthquake, followed by several strong aftershocks, struck off the east coast of Taiwan on Wednesday morning, killing at least nine people and injuring 963 others, according to Taiwan’s fire department. The earthquake, which damaged buildings and caused landslides, was the largest to hit Taiwan in 25 years and was also felt in parts of China. Overnight, at least 143 people remained trapped under rubble, authorities said, including more than 70 quarry workers.

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The earthquake hit about 15 miles south of Hualien county just before 8 a.m. local time. Taiwan recorded 76 aftershocks in less than five hours, according to the Central Weather Administration.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a linchpin of the global economy as the world’s most important maker of high-tech computer chips, said its facilities were not seriously damaged by the earthquake and that production will be fully restored in the coming hours.
The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said “the tsunami threat has now largely passed,” though it added that national authorities may still issue additional alerts.
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The earthquake hit about 15 miles south of Hualien county just before 8 a.m. local time. Taiwan recorded 76 aftershocks in less than five hours, according to the Central Weather Administration.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a linchpin of the global economy as the world’s most important maker of high-tech computer chips, said its facilities were not seriously damaged by the earthquake and that production will be fully restored in the coming hours.
The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said “the tsunami threat has now largely passed,” though it added that national authorities may still issue additional alerts.
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