The epicenter of the earthquake was located near Hualien, a mountainous and sparsely populated county. Buildings were tilted at precarious angles, and landslides were reported in the area.

At least nine people were confirmed dead, with over 900 injured. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with a focus on locating 50 hotel workers missing after their minibuses were caught in a landslide.

The tremor triggered a tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines, which was later lifted. Strong tremors were felt in the capital, Taipei, forcing the temporary closure of the subway system.

President-elect Lai Ching-te emphasized rescue efforts as the top priority. He reported some damage to F-16 fighter jets at a military base and assured their swift return to service.

The earthquake also impacted other parts of Asia. Minor tsunami waves reached Okinawa, Japan, while tremors were felt in mainland China.

Taiwan's high-speed rail and nuclear power plants remained operational, while a major chip manufacturer evacuated some facilities as a safety precaution.

This earthquake is considered the strongest since 1999, when a 7.6 magnitude quake caused significant casualties and destruction. (ILKHA)