Taiwan: powerful earthquake leaves dozens injured. At least 26 buildings have collapsed in the city of Hualien and nearly 20 people are trapped under the rubble.
The earthquake struck around 8:00 a.m. (00:00 UT) off the east coast of Taiwan, as residents were leaving for school or work. It is the most violent earthquake to hit the island since 1999, when a magnitude 7.6 earthquake killed 2,400 people and damaged 50,000 buildings. The tsunami warning issued earlier by the authorities has been lifted.