Help after earthquake

Dead and more than 1000 injured in Taiwan

According to rescue workers, dozens of people were trapped.(Bild: Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Taiwan was shaken by a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 on Wednesday - the earth shook harder than it has for at least 25 years. The government in Taipei reported that nine people lost their lives, while more than 1,000 were injured. 

In addition, 48 people are missing, including 42 employees of a hotel in a national park. Rescue teams are using drones and helicopters to search for the missing. Dozens of people are believed to be trapped under the rubble.

Metro shut down, air force jets damaged
The quake mainly hit the sparsely populated mountainous region of Hualien near the epicenter, which was located off the east coast of the island state. Many residents there spent Thursday night outdoors for fear of aftershocks. The quake was also felt in the capital. The subway there briefly stopped running. According to the air force, six F-16 fighter jets were slightly damaged, but should soon be operational again.

The quake struck at around eight o'clock in the morning local time, just as many people were making their way to work or school. "It was the worst earthquake I have ever experienced," said the owner of a guesthouse in the city of Hualien. She had to work very hard to calm her frightened guests. The earth tremors were still clearly felt in the capital Taipei, over 200 kilometers away. Aftershocks were also registered.

Pictures from Taiwan:

According to rescue workers, dozens of people were buried.(Bild: Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

(Bild: AP)

(Bild: AFP)

(Bild: AP)

(Bild: AFP)

According to the Taiwanese weather authority, the last major earthquake in Taiwan occurred in 1999, when 2,400 people lost their lives. 50,000 buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. It had a magnitude of 7.6.

Germans rescued
Two Germans were among those trapped, but according to the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, they have now been rescued. "The situation is currently still unclear," said a spokesperson for the Federal Foreign Office. "We are following up all the information we have."