Earthquake hits Taiwan as US issues tsunami warning

Shaking felt in Taipei from second major earthquake in less than 24 hours

A tsunami warning has been issued by the US authorities after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the east coast of Taiwan, with initial reports of shaking felt in Taipei.

The tremors from the powerful quake could be felt across Taiwan, the country’s weather bureau said.

The earthquake hit Taiwan less than 24 hours after a 6.4 magnitude tremor rocked the southeastern city of Taitung at around 9.41pm on Saturday.

Sharing the first visuals of damage from the earthquake, Taiwanese broadcasters said a low-rise two-story residential building collapsed and at least one train carriage was derailed at a station on the east coast.

It was unclear if there were any casualties.

Other videos shared on social media showed chandeliers and chairs moving violently.

However, The Independent could not immediately verify the video.

Another video from the aftermath of the disaster showed a white cloud of smoke filling the street from the collapsed building.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has also issued an alert for a tsunami as high as 1 metre (3ft) which could threaten several southern Japanese islands.

The federal agency said tsunami waves could hit Yonaguni island, Japan’s westernmost island about 110 km (70 miles) east of Taiwan, at around 4.10pm local time (8.10am BST), and subsequently impact three nearby islands.

Alerts have also been issued for the Miyakojima and Yaeyama regions of Okinawa Prefecture.

Officials have urged residents living near the coastline to stay away from these areas. These islands are about 2,000km (1,200 miles) southwest of Tokyo.

The island nation’s weather agency projected that the earthquake was at 6.8 magnitude on the Richter scale.