٠٠:٠٣:٢٣Eyewitnesses described the moment the huge 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit Hualien, in footage taken in the city on Thursday.
"I was driving. I drove into the parking lot, and the basement and the whole car rocked," explained charity volunteer Yang. "This was an incredibly scary feeling….I was scared, but I didn't dare [get out of the car] because you didn't know what was happening at that time."
Footage also shows emergency workers' vehicles removing rubble from a partially collapsed building, tents set up for those forced to evacuate, and a makeshift hub for supplies.
"We were deeply shocked by [a] teacher's death," said the building manager, Wang. "He originally came out [of the building], and we told him not to go back inside, but he still rushed in, and then, in fact, we were very afraid… Now every one of us has to bear that shadow in our hearts for a lifetime.”
"The situation… is quite serious," said one resident, Yang. "The surrounding area is also affected… and there is no way for people to move around [the region]."
Restaurant owner Lin explained that he was happy to get news that his friends were safe.
"The next thing is to take refuge in the school square," he added. "We hope the county government announces that we can go home during the holidays."
At the time of publication, Taiwanese officials reported nine people killed in total, with more than 1,000 injured and 127 remaining trapped. Taiwanese president-elect Lai Ching-te said that the 'top priority' for rescuers was to save those trapped underneath the rubble, during a visit to the area on Wednesday.
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.
'Incredibly scary' - Eyewitnesses describe moment huge earthquake hit Hualien
Eyewitnesses described the moment the huge 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit Hualien, in footage taken in the city on Thursday.
"I was driving. I drove into the parking lot, and the basement and the whole car rocked," explained charity volunteer Yang. "This was an incredibly scary feeling….I was scared, but I didn't dare [get out of the car] because you didn't know what was happening at that time."
Footage also shows emergency workers' vehicles removing rubble from a partially collapsed building, tents set up for those forced to evacuate, and a makeshift hub for supplies.
"We were deeply shocked by [a] teacher's death," said the building manager, Wang. "He originally came out [of the building], and we told him not to go back inside, but he still rushed in, and then, in fact, we were very afraid… Now every one of us has to bear that shadow in our hearts for a lifetime.”
"The situation… is quite serious," said one resident, Yang. "The surrounding area is also affected… and there is no way for people to move around [the region]."
Restaurant owner Lin explained that he was happy to get news that his friends were safe.
"The next thing is to take refuge in the school square," he added. "We hope the county government announces that we can go home during the holidays."
At the time of publication, Taiwanese officials reported nine people killed in total, with more than 1,000 injured and 127 remaining trapped. Taiwanese president-elect Lai Ching-te said that the 'top priority' for rescuers was to save those trapped underneath the rubble, during a visit to the area on Wednesday.
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.
Eyewitnesses described the moment the huge 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit Hualien, in footage taken in the city on Thursday.
"I was driving. I drove into the parking lot, and the basement and the whole car rocked," explained charity volunteer Yang. "This was an incredibly scary feeling….I was scared, but I didn't dare [get out of the car] because you didn't know what was happening at that time."
Footage also shows emergency workers' vehicles removing rubble from a partially collapsed building, tents set up for those forced to evacuate, and a makeshift hub for supplies.
"We were deeply shocked by [a] teacher's death," said the building manager, Wang. "He originally came out [of the building], and we told him not to go back inside, but he still rushed in, and then, in fact, we were very afraid… Now every one of us has to bear that shadow in our hearts for a lifetime.”
"The situation… is quite serious," said one resident, Yang. "The surrounding area is also affected… and there is no way for people to move around [the region]."
Restaurant owner Lin explained that he was happy to get news that his friends were safe.
"The next thing is to take refuge in the school square," he added. "We hope the county government announces that we can go home during the holidays."
At the time of publication, Taiwanese officials reported nine people killed in total, with more than 1,000 injured and 127 remaining trapped. Taiwanese president-elect Lai Ching-te said that the 'top priority' for rescuers was to save those trapped underneath the rubble, during a visit to the area on Wednesday.
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.