Tipping Point Quick Hits (04.04.24)

Taiwan earthquake, Netanyahu under fire, and Erdogan in Turkey

Earthquake Shakes Taiwan, Triggers Tsunami Warnings

The strongest earthquake in 25 years hit the island of Taiwan yesterday morning, during rush hour in Hualien. Nine people died, dozens were trapped in rubble and hundreds were injured. The 7.4-magnitude quake was centered off the east coast of the mountainous Hualien County, which is 93 miles from the capital of Taipei.

Small earthquakes are common here due to seismic activity, but this one was much larger than anticipated. The Associated Press, reporting on the aftermath, said Taiwan may have been caught off-guard by the intensity of the disaster:

Taiwan is regularly jolted by quakes and its population is among the best prepared for them, but authorities said they had expected a relatively mild earthquake and accordingly did not send out alerts. The eventual temblor was strong enough to scare even people who are used to such shaking.

“I’ve grown accustomed to (earthquakes). But today was the first time I was scared to tears by an earthquake,” said Hsien-hsuen Keng, a resident who lives in a fifth-floor apartment in Taipei. ”I was awakened by the earthquake. I had never felt such intense shaking before.”