The entire island of Taiwan was rocked by a powerful earthquake early Wednesday morning, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

• Powerful Earthquake Hits Taiwan: A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 (Taiwan’s estimate) or 7.5 (U.S. Geological Survey) struck Taiwan.

• Tsunami Alert for Southern Japanese Islands: The earthquake triggered a tsunami alert for the southern Japanese island group of Okinawa.

• Emergency Response Underway:Emergency response teams are mobilising to assess the damage and provide assistance to affected areas.

BREAKING: Multiple buildings collapse after quake hits eastern Taiwan – witnesses pic.twitter.com/VcdavC7abb

— BNO News (@BNONews) April 3, 2024

Buildings collapsed in the southern city of Hualien, while a tsunami alert was triggered, affecting southern Japanese islands.

The earthquake, which struck at 7:58 a.m. local time, caused significant structural damage in the eastern city of Hualien, with buildings shaken off their foundations.

The impact was felt across the island, prompting the suspension of islandwide train services and halting subway operations in Taipei.

Even in the capital, Taipei, items were knocked off shelves as a result of the tremors.

Authorities in Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency reported the magnitude of the quake as 7.2, while the U.S. Geological Survey assessed it slightly higher, at 7.5.

WATCH: Webcam at Liyu Lake in eastern Taiwan during 7.4 quake pic.twitter.com/5Y9hyKZkHk

— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) April 3, 2024

The quake’s depth was approximately 35 kilometers (21 miles), indicating a significant subterranean disturbance.

In the wake of the seismic activity, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning for the southern Japanese island group of Okinawa.

Initial forecasts suggested waves could reach heights of up to 3 meters (9.8 feet). Within minutes of the earthquake, a wave measuring 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) was detected on the coast of Yonaguni island.

The JMA also anticipated that the tsunami may have affected the coasts of Miyako and Yaeyama islands.

As emergency response teams mobilise to assess the damage and assist those affected, concerns remain high for both Taiwan and neighboring Japanese islands.

With the threat of aftershocks looming and the potential for further tsunami activity, residents are urged to remain vigilant and follow safety protocols.