٠٠:٠١:٥٧Search and rescue crews were seen at the site of a warehouse collapse in New Taipei City on Wednesday, after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan's east coast earlier in the day.
"There were 17 citizens inside," said local mayor Hou yu ih. "Apart from the immediate evacuation, there were three trapped people, and the last one was rescued at nearly 11:00. At present, only one person is injured, and the other people in the factory are safe."
Footage shows workers at a makeshift emergency hub, carrying equipment and digging through the rubble. A search and rescue plan can be seen on a huge whiteboard, as well as locals reacting to the devastation.
"I didn't dare to run when the earthquake came," said Mrs Chang. "I came to have a look later, because we live near here. We found it (the warehouse) fell down, and there was a puff of white smoke. At first, I thought it was the vent."
At time of publication, Taiwanese officials reported nine people killed in total, 821 injured and 127 trapped under the rubble. Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Centre stated that 26 buildings had collapsed in Hualien County, the area worst affected by the quake.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said the epicentre of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake was 25km southeast of Hualien County Hall at a depth of 15.5km. Tsunami warnings issued for Japan’s southern area of Okinawa and the Philippines were later lifted.
Wednesday’s earthquake is reportedly the biggest to hit Taiwan since 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude tremor left at least 2,400 dead.
'I didn't dare run when the earthquake came!' - Search and rescue units deployed as warehouse collapses in New Taipei City
Search and rescue crews were seen at the site of a warehouse collapse in New Taipei City on Wednesday, after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan's east coast earlier in the day.
"There were 17 citizens inside," said local mayor Hou yu ih. "Apart from the immediate evacuation, there were three trapped people, and the last one was rescued at nearly 11:00. At present, only one person is injured, and the other people in the factory are safe."
Footage shows workers at a makeshift emergency hub, carrying equipment and digging through the rubble. A search and rescue plan can be seen on a huge whiteboard, as well as locals reacting to the devastation.
"I didn't dare to run when the earthquake came," said Mrs Chang. "I came to have a look later, because we live near here. We found it (the warehouse) fell down, and there was a puff of white smoke. At first, I thought it was the vent."
At time of publication, Taiwanese officials reported nine people killed in total, 821 injured and 127 trapped under the rubble. Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Centre stated that 26 buildings had collapsed in Hualien County, the area worst affected by the quake.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said the epicentre of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake was 25km southeast of Hualien County Hall at a depth of 15.5km. Tsunami warnings issued for Japan’s southern area of Okinawa and the Philippines were later lifted.
Wednesday’s earthquake is reportedly the biggest to hit Taiwan since 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude tremor left at least 2,400 dead.
Search and rescue crews were seen at the site of a warehouse collapse in New Taipei City on Wednesday, after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan's east coast earlier in the day.
"There were 17 citizens inside," said local mayor Hou yu ih. "Apart from the immediate evacuation, there were three trapped people, and the last one was rescued at nearly 11:00. At present, only one person is injured, and the other people in the factory are safe."
Footage shows workers at a makeshift emergency hub, carrying equipment and digging through the rubble. A search and rescue plan can be seen on a huge whiteboard, as well as locals reacting to the devastation.
"I didn't dare to run when the earthquake came," said Mrs Chang. "I came to have a look later, because we live near here. We found it (the warehouse) fell down, and there was a puff of white smoke. At first, I thought it was the vent."
At time of publication, Taiwanese officials reported nine people killed in total, 821 injured and 127 trapped under the rubble. Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Centre stated that 26 buildings had collapsed in Hualien County, the area worst affected by the quake.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said the epicentre of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake was 25km southeast of Hualien County Hall at a depth of 15.5km. Tsunami warnings issued for Japan’s southern area of Okinawa and the Philippines were later lifted.
Wednesday’s earthquake is reportedly the biggest to hit Taiwan since 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude tremor left at least 2,400 dead.