Taiwan shaken by over 70 earthquake aftershocks

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Taiwan has witnessed more than 70 aftershocks following Sunday’s powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake with the weather agency warning of more tremors in the coming days.

At least one person died and 146 others were injured after the earthquake struck southeastern Taitung county on Sunday evening, sending shockwaves across the self-ruled island nation.

Some 500 people are still stranded in mountainous areas of eastern Taiwan due to landslides that blocked roads, daily Taiwan News reported.

US Geological Survey said the earthquake hit Chishang township at 2.44 p.m. (0644GMT) on Sunday at a depth of 7 kilometers (4.4 miles).

A day earlier on Saturday, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit the island nations’ Guanshan township.

On Monday morning, at around 10:07 a.m. (0207GMT), a magnitude 5.9 aftershock hit Taiwan, said Central Weather Bureau (CWB), urging people to maintain guard.

It said the epicenter of the aftershock was located in Hualien's Zhuoxi township, with a depth of 13.4 km (8.4 miles).

Roads and traffic infrastructure were damaged in Hualien, while a bridge over the Shiuguluan River collapsed, and the Yuli Bridge was damaged.

The CWB said the next three days may witness earthquakes exceeding a magnitude of 5.

Meanwhile, China expressed “high concern” over the strong earthquakes that jolted the island nation of over 24 million people.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Sunday in Beijing: "We hope people in the affected area will resume normal order of production and life as soon as possible."