A 6.8 magnitude earthquake rattled much of Taiwan on Sunday, which followed a 6.4 magnitude earthquake Saturday, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau (CWB).
The magnitude 6.8 quake hit around 2:44 pm local time (0644 GMT), with an epicenter in Taitung county, a town in the eastern part of the island nation.
CWB said the quake was recorded at a relatively shallow depth of 7 kilometers (4 miles).The US Geological Survey initially reported that the quake registered a 7.2 magnitude but revised it to 6.9 -- still a higher reading than CWB's estimate.
Tsunami advisories were issued on Sunday after the quake struck along coastlines within a 300-kilometer (186-mile) of Taitung county. The advisories expired without any signs of high waves.
Videos posted on social media reveal buildings were destroyed, critical infrastructure such as bridges and roads were damaged, and even WaPo reported a train derailed.
Terrible! #Taiwán es sacudida por un fuerte sismo de 6,8 en la escala de richter. Hay alerta de Tsunami en el mar de Japón. pic.twitter.com/2K9TTGs1sC
— Danell Bullon (@DanellBullon)
Taïwan La terre tremble et les immeubles tombent, malheureusement de nombreuses victimes sont à prévoir
— RASEK (@rasekrasek)
Il s’agit d’un 3e tremblement de terre en 24 heures.
Le Japon émet également une alerte au tsunami.#Earthquake #Temblor #taiwan
pic.twitter.com/ZxhnKICwQ9
Another video of a bridge in #Hualien twisted up and dumped on one side.
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez)
7.2-magnitude #earthquake strikes off east cost of #Taiwan: USGSpic.twitter.com/HJHFEn3VBi
#MARVEL Aftermath of the powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked #Taiwan and prompted a #tsunami threat on Japan’s Miyakojima Island, revealing the scale of destruction. No official information on casualties is available just yet. #earthquake #台湾地震 #臺灣 #地震 #台湾 pic.twitter.com/8bzXUq0xAf
— The apprised (@the_apprised)
An #earthquake Occurred in #Taiwan,#Tsunami Warning Was Issued with a Magnitude of 6.8 Occurred in the Country Hours Before and Caused Destruction.
— JEREMY SONG (@JEREMYSONG750)
The island off was hit with another major earthquake on Sun.afternoon,with the shakes toppling a building and derailing train cars. pic.twitter.com/MAZHLNTdgc
Multiple strong #earthquakes destroyed #Hualien County in #Taiwan on Sunday.
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez)
The most devastating one measured 7.2-magnitude.
Tsunami alerts have been issued in Japan's #Miyakojima and #Yaeyama regions. pic.twitter.com/vUO1LIyRVe
Minute of life…the ceiling of the building collapsed #Taiwan #earthquake #Tsunami pic.twitter.com/aMJGYkFSyr
— Sujoy Basu (@SujoyTechie)
The good news is that the quake didn't strike near Taiwan's nuclear power plants.
... and now we are waiting for Beijing's response.