Taiwan earthquake: Chilling video shows high-rise tilting in earthquake-hit Taiwan

A building collapsed after a powerful earthquake hit Hualien, Taiwan (Image credit: @ShaykhSulaiman/X)

A powerful earthquake hit the island of Taiwan on early Wednesday, collapsing buildings in a southern city and creating a tsunami that washed ashore on southern Japanese islands. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake brought traffic to a standstill and people out on the streets briefly.

A five-story building in lightly populated Hualien appeared heavily damaged, collapsing its first floor and leaving the rest leaning at a 45-degree angle, the Associated Press reported. Voice of America reporter William Yang said at least two buildings in Hualien are “seriously tilting” after the earthquake.

The reports of two buildings in Hualien being impacted by the Taiwan earthquake were confirmed by news agency AFP. “Two buildings have collapsed and some people are believed to be trapped. We don't have more information at the moment,” a fire department official told AFP.

Footage of one particular building has been widely shared on social media. It shows the building leaning dangerously on its side. Local news reports suggest the high-rise is located on Xuanyuan Road in Hualien.

Taiwan Earthquake Update A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan nad and after few minutes 6.2 magnitude after shocks hit Taiwan again That is highest magnitude earthquake ever faced this self ruling Island pic.twitter.com/YQCGIqgSTl

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The initial earthquake was felt across Taiwan. The aftershocks -- which included a 6.5-magnitude earthquake near Hualien according to Taipei's weather agency -- were also felt in Taipei.

Officials said the earthquake was the strongest felt on the island in decades. "The earthquake is close to land and it's shallow. It's felt all over Taiwan and offshore islands," said Wu Chien-fu, director of Taipei's Central Weather Administration's Seismology Center.

"It's the strongest in 25 years since the (1999) earthquake," he told reporters.

Lying at the junction of two tectonic plates, earthquakes are common in Taiwan. The 1999 earthquake is among the deadliest natural disasters that Taiwan has experienced. More than 2,400 people were killed when the 7.6 magnitude quake hit Taiwan in September 1999.