TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck off the coast of Yilan County at 11:05 p.m. Saturday briefly disrupted transportation services across Taiwan and prompted precautionary evacuations at TSMC, though no major injuries were reported, per CNA.
Taiwan High Speed Rail said six trains, four southbound and two northbound, made temporary stops after seismic alerts were detected along sections of the line in Nangang and Yunlin. Metro systems in Taipei and Taichung operated at reduced speeds before resuming normal service later Saturday night.
Some businesses were also affected. The Hsinchu Science Park Administration said several companies in the Yilan, Longtan, and Hsinchu science parks evacuated staff as a precaution. Utilities at the parks remained normal, though elevator malfunctions were reported at two biomedical buildings, with repairs underway.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. said certain fabs at the Hsinchu Science Park met evacuation criteria and personnel were evacuated outdoors in accordance with emergency procedures. The company said safety systems at all fabs were operating normally.
The National Fire Agency said part of the ceiling in a waiting area at Terminal 2 of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport collapsed following the quake, but no injuries were reported. The agency also reported six cases of people trapped in elevators in Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan, all of which were resolved.
In Yilan’s Jiaoxi Township, a floor-to-ceiling glass window at the main entrance of the Sun Spring Resort (山泉大飯店) shattered during the strong shaking. No one was injured, as the area had been closed to traffic. Glass windows in the lobby of the Shan Quan Hotel in the same township also shattered, with large sections cracking into spiderweb patterns and some pieces falling to the ground. The hotel cordoned off the area and placed warning signs to prevent injuries.
The quake caused a power outage affecting 3,465 households in Dongao Township, Yilan County, but electricity has since been restored, according to state-owned Taipower.
In New Taipei City, a landslide occurred around 1 a.m. Sunday at the 72.3-kilometer mark of Provincial Highway 106 in Pingxi District. Large boulders rolled onto the roadway, blocking traffic in both directions, though no injuries were reported. Road crews and light machinery arrived at the scene at 4:15 a.m., and heavier equipment was later dispatched. Single-lane traffic was expected to resume by 3 p.m., per CNA.
The Taipei City Office of Disaster Prevention and Relief said it received 39 disaster reports, all considered minor. These included nine cases of gas pipeline leaks or damage, 14 cases of water outages or leaks, one instance of damaged traffic signals, six cases of minor building damage, and two wall collapses, per CNA.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) told reporters early Sunday that most of the reported issues had been resolved, adding that relevant departments would handle remaining cases as quickly as possible during the day.
The Taipei City Government reminded residents that some gas meters may automatically shut off after an earthquake. If this occurs, a red light in the center of the meter will flash, and users can restart the supply by unscrewing the black cover and pressing and holding the reset switch until the light stops flashing.
