Japan and the Philippines cancel tsunami warnings after magnitude-7.5 earthquake near Taiwan

Japan and the Philippines have lifted all their tsunami warnings and advisories after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 struck near Taiwan, killing at least one person.

The earthquake hit at 7:58am (local time) at a depth of 15.5 kilometres, just off the east coast of Taiwan, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration.

The quake knocked out power in several parts of Taiwan’s capital Taipei, according to a Reuters witness.

The local fire department confirmed at least two buildings “collapsed” in Hualien, near the epicentre. 

Taiwanese media reported that some people were trapped inside.

At least one person died in an apparent rockfall in a mountainous area, and more than 50 were injured, Taiwan’s fire department said.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency said the earthquake struck at a very shallow depth, making the impact worse.

Flights were suspended at Japan’s main airport in Okinawa from 9:25 am (local time) as a precautionary measure, a transport ministry official stationed at Naha Airport said.

He added that “incoming flights need to divert”.

A 30-centimetre wave reached Japan’s Yonaguni Island at 9:18am.

The US Tsunami Warning System said the tsunami threat had “largely passed”.

AFP reported that powerful aftershocks hit Taiwan and were felt by the agency’s reporters. 

The quake was felt in Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou and Ningde in China’s Fujian province, according to Chinese state media.

The Taipei city government has not received any reports of damage and the city’s metro system was up and running soon after the quake.

SOURCE: ABCNEWS