At least seven people are reported to have died following an earthquake in Taiwan - the strongest to hit the country for a quarter of a century - officials have said.
At 7.58am local time, the earthquake struck 25km (15.5 miles) south of Hualien, a city on the country's east coast, triggering landslides and building collapses across the area.
Over 700 people have been injured in the quake, Taiwan's government has said, while more than 70 people are still trapped in collapsed buildings with search efforts underway.
Three of the deaths happened at a trail near Taroko National Park, near Hualien, Taiwan's National Fire Agency said.
Apartments were rocked in New Taipei City, while firefighters scrambled to clear the damage in Hualien
Reuters
The quake was measured at 7.7 on the Richter scale, according to Japan's meteorological agency, while Taiwan's earthquake monitoring service recorded a 7.2.
The tremors heralded tsunami warnings in Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines - though the latter two have since lifted their alerts.
Wu Chien Fu, director of Taipei's Seismology Centre, said: "The earthquake is close to land and it's shallow. It's felt all over Taiwan and offshore islands... It's the strongest in 25 years."
More than 87,000 households have been left without power across the whole island of Taiwan, the country's electricity provider Taipower has said, while transport infrastructure has been damaged and schools and workplaces have been shut in Hualien.
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The 7.2-7.7 magniturde earthquake triggered landslides in central Taiwan
Reuters
Taiwanese capital Taipei experienced violent shaking and aftershocks through the day, prompting a temporary suspension of its underground rail network.
TSMC, a semiconductor manufacturing firm which makes chips for companies including Apple and Nvidia, said it evacuated factories in north-west and southern Taiwan.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office said it was "highly concerned" with the news and was willing to provide disaster relief assistance, according to Chinese state media.
Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, said on social media: "To the people of Taiwan, I am deeply saddened to hear that a large earthquake has occurred in eastern Taiwan, causing extensive damage.
Firefighters rushed to the scene as buildings collapsed following the tremorReuters"I would like to express my heartfelt sympathies to those affected. We are grateful for the heartwarming support we received from our dear friends in Taiwan during the Great East Japan Earthquake and the recent Noto Peninsula earthquake.
"We are extremely grateful, and Japan stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to Taiwan, our neighbour across the sea, in times of difficulty."
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked Kishida for his statement, and said: "We appreciate the worldwide good wishes & prayers issued in the wake of the 7.2 earthquake & ongoing aftershocks.
"Support from allies and friends in moments of adversity touches our hearts and strengthens our resolve - Taiwan stands strong as an island of resilience."
