The strongest earthquake in a quarter-century rocked Taiwan during the morning rush hour Wednesday, killing nine people, trapping dozens in quarries and sending some residents scrambling out the windows of damaged buildings, The Associated Press reported. Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency said the quake was 7.2 magnitude struck about 18 kilometers (11 miles) off of Hualien, on Taiwan's east coast, and was about 35 kilometers (21 miles) deep.
In Photos: Taiwan Earthquake
![This photo taken by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on April 3, 2024 shows damage to buildings in Xindian district of New Taipei City, after a major earthquake hit Taiwan's east.](https://gdb.voanews.com/01000000-0aff-0242-c12f-08dc53e0f37b_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
5
This photo taken by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on April 3, 2024 shows damage to buildings in Xindian district of New Taipei City, after a major earthquake hit Taiwan's east.
![In this photo released by the Taiwan Air Force Command, members of a search and rescue team prepare to deploy on a Taiwan Air Force C-130 from southern Taiwan's Pingtung military air base en route for Hualien, April 3, 2024.](https://gdb.voanews.com/01000000-0aff-0242-a5ad-08dc53e0fb20_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
6
In this photo released by the Taiwan Air Force Command, members of a search and rescue team prepare to deploy on a Taiwan Air Force C-130 from southern Taiwan's Pingtung military air base en route for Hualien, April 3, 2024.
![A diagram depicting the tectonic plates below Taiwan is displayed on screen during a visit by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, unseen, to the Central Emergency Operation Center in New Taipei City in Taiwan, April 3, 2024.](https://gdb.voanews.com/01000000-0aff-0242-2746-08dc53e0fb0d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
7
A diagram depicting the tectonic plates below Taiwan is displayed on screen during a visit by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, unseen, to the Central Emergency Operation Center in New Taipei City in Taiwan, April 3, 2024.
![This photo taken by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on April 3, 2024 shows emergency workers assisting a survivor after he was rescued from a damaged building in New Taipei City, after a powerful earthquake hit Taiwan's east.](https://gdb.voanews.com/049006a4-53cf-4834-9b8b-4f850cc0676e_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
8
This photo taken by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on April 3, 2024 shows emergency workers assisting a survivor after he was rescued from a damaged building in New Taipei City, after a powerful earthquake hit Taiwan's east.