In the early hours of Wednesday, April 3, Taiwan was jolted by a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake, triggering tsunami warnings across the region. The quake, centered in the eastern county of Hualien, has resulted in casualties and widespread damage.

Reports indicate that at least four individuals are suspected to have been fatally injured by falling rocks in the mountainous areas of Hualien, with over 50 others sustaining injuries. The quake has also caused the collapse of at least 26 buildings, leaving numerous individuals trapped under debris.

While the US Geological Survey initially recorded the earthquake as having a magnitude of 7.4, Japan’s Meteorological Agency reported it as a 7.7-magnitude event. According to the director of Taipei’s Seismology Centre, this quake marks the strongest seismic activity in Taiwan in 25 years, reminiscent of the devastating 1999 earthquake that claimed thousands of lives.