Taiwan earthquake live updates: Seven people crushed to death in landslides as experts warn more tremors will hit the island

By Perkin Amalaraj

Published: 08:11 BST, 3 April 2024 | Updated: 08:35 BST, 3 April 2024

More than 70 trapped in tunnels and under buildings following quake

Authorities said that 77 people are confirmed to be trapped in tunnels and underneath buildings.

Most of them, roughly 60, are trapped in a tunnel just north of Hualien city, with two Germans among those trapped in another tunnel.

HUALIEN, TAIWAN - APRIL 3: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY MANDATORY CREDIT - 'ARMY COMMAND HEADQUARTERS (MND) / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) The National Army's Second Combat Zone has dispatched liaison officers and intelligence officers to the county government after strong earthquake, 7.4 magnitude, occurred this morning, causing disasters in the Hualien area of Taiwan on April 3, 2024. They will fully cooperate with the command of the Hualien County Disaster Response Center and have completed disaster prevention personnel are organized, equipment, machinery and vehicles are prepared, and are on standby to carry out disaster prevention and rescue tasks at any time. (Photo by Army Command Headquarters (MND)/Anadolu via Getty Images)

This handout photo from the Taichung City Government's Fire Bureau taken and released on April 3, 2024 shows rocks blocking part of the road on a section of a highway in Taichung, after a major earthquake hit Taiwan's east. At least seven people were killed and more than 700 injured on April 3 by a powerful earthquake in Taiwan that damaged dozens of buildings and prompted tsunami warnings that extended to Japan and the Philippines before being lifted. (Photo by Handout / TAICHUNG CITY GOVERNMENT'S FIRE BUREAU / AFP) / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / TAICHUNG CITY GOVERNMENT'S FIRE BUREAU " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - (Photo by HANDOUT/TAICHUNG CITY GOVERNMENT'S FIRE BUREAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Taiwan earthquake is the strongest to hit the island in 25 years

Today’s 7.4-magnitude earthquake is the strongest to have hit the island in 25 years.

The last quake with a similar strength hit Taiwan in September 1999, killing around 2,400 people in the deadliest natural disaster in the island’s history.

Japan’s PM says nation is ready to assist Taiwan

Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida said his nation ‘stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to Taiwan’, following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake.

Kishida took to X to say: ‘I am deeply saddened to hear that a large earthquake has occurred in eastern Taiwan, causing extensive damage.

‘I would like to express my heartfelt sympathies to those affected. We are grateful for the heartwarming support we received from our dear friends in Taiwan during the Great East Japan Earthquake and the recent Noto Peninsula earthquake.’

Japanese children evacuated from school to higher ground following tsunami warning

Children in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture were made to leave their schools and go up to higher ground after a tsunami warning was issued.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami wave roughly 30 centimetres tall was detected on the coast of Yonaguni island about 15 minutes after the quake struck. Smaller waves were measured on the islands of Ishigaki and Miyako.

Japan sent military aircraft to gather information about the impact around the Okinawa region, but the nation has since rescinded its tsunami warning

Students evacuate to the playground at a school in Xiamen, in eastern China's Fujian province on April 3, 2024, after a major earthquake hit Taiwan's east. At least four people were killed and nearly 60 injured on April 3 by a powerful earthquake in Taiwan that damaged dozens of buildings and prompted tsunami warnings that extended to Japan and the Philippines before being lifted. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

epa11256509 Children are evacuated to higher ground after a tsunami warning was issued in Naha, Okinawa prefecture, southern Japan, 03 April 2024. Residents in Okinawa evacuated to higher grounds after a tsunami warning was issued following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Taiwan on the morning of 03 April with an epicenter 18 kilometers south of Hualien City at a depth of 34.8 km, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). EPA/JIJI PRESS JAPAN OUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/

Images show extent of damage done to Taiwan’s infrastructure

New images have revealed how badly Taiwan’s Hualien City was hit by the magnitude-7.4 quake, which struck south of the city just before 8:00 am local time (0000 GMT).

TOPSHOT - This photo taken by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on April 3, 2024 shows a damaged building in Hualien, after a major earthquake hit Taiwan's east. At least one person was feared dead and nearly 60 injured on April 3 by a powerful earthquake in Taiwan that damaged dozens of buildings and prompted tsunami warnings that extended to Japan and the Philippines before being lifted. (Photo by CNA / AFP) / China OUT - Macau OUT - Taiwan OUT / HONG KONG OUT - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by -/CNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Number of people injured rises to 736

Authorities said that 736 people have been injured in the devastation wrought by the earthquake.

All deaths happened in one county, authorities say

Taiwanese authorities said all the deaths caused by the earthquake occured in Hualien county, a mountainous part of Taiwan.

Taiwan government announces death toll rise

The government of Taiwan has announced that the death toll for the deadly earthquake has risen to seven. So far, more than 700 people have been injured by the quake, though the extent of the injuries suffered is not known.

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