Strong earthquake hits Taiwan; injuries reported

Schumacher · 03-04-2010, 03:01 AM

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...hKbrAD9E7LD9G0

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Taiwan on Thursday, terrifying residents, disrupting communications and triggering at least one large fire. Twelve people were injured, the National Fire Agency said.

No tsunami alert was issued. The quake was centered in the same mountainous region of rural Kaohsiung county that endured the brunt of the damage from Typhoon Morakot, a devastating storm that killed about 700 people last August.

Taiwanese actor Chu Chung-heng said he and other passengers were close to panic when the high-speed train on which they were traveling was dislodged from its track by the quake.

"Many people in my car were screaming," he said. "I was so scared that I couldn't make a sound. The train shook very hard and I thought it was going to overturn."

Rail service in southern and central Taiwan was suspended, as was the state-of-the-art subway system in Kaohsiung city, Taiwan's second largest with a population of 1.5 million. Kaohsiung is about 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Taipei.

In nearby Tainan, a fire broke out in a textile factory shortly after the quake hit, sending huge plumes of black smoke billowing into the air. Power outages struck Taipei and at least one county to the south, and telephone service in many parts of Taiwan was spotty.

Kuo Kai-wen, director of the Central Weather Bureau's Seismology Center, said the quake was not geologically related to the massive temblor that hit Chile last Saturday, but its intensity was unusual for the area.

"This is the biggest quake to hit this region in more than a century," he said.

The quake's epicenter was near the town of Jiashian, especially hard hit by last year's typhoon. A Kaohsiung county official told CTI TV news that some temporary housing built for typhoon survivors collapsed.

The Ministry of Defense said troops were dispatched to Jiashian to report on the extent of the damage.

In nearby Liugui an unidentified high school student described the quake as terrifying. "Everyone was running out of the classroom, and some people fell in the rush," she told ETTV.

CTI said one person was slightly injured by falling debris in Kaohsiung, and a woman was hospitalized after a wall collapsed on her scooter in the southern city of Chiayi. Also in Chiayi, one person was hurt by a falling tree, government-owned Central News Agency said.

A spokesman for President Ma Ying-jeou said authorities had been instructed to follow the quake situation closely and take steps to mitigate damage and dislocation. Ma was widely criticized for his government's slow response to last year's typhoon.

The presidential office said he planned to visit Tainan on Thursday afternoon.

Earthquakes frequently rattle Taiwan but most are minor and cause little or no damage.

However, a 7.6-magnitude temblor in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people. In 2006 a 6.7-magnitude quake south of Kaohsiung severed undersea cables and disrupted telephone and Internet service for millions throughout Asia.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

sole cal · 03-04-2010, 03:06 AM

damm

pittsy · 03-04-2010, 03:06 AM

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=357826

c0nstant · 03-04-2010, 03:40 AM

im legitimately starting to get worried about something hitting us :[

ibeclueless · 03-04-2010, 07:47 AM

it is becoming more frequent now

BMWCadet · 03-04-2010, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jh valley

im legitimately starting to get worried about something hitting us :[

Awwww, enjoy California!

nightkhan · 03-04-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibeclueless

it is becoming more frequent now

it's not as much as it's becoming more frequent, but more surface quakes now. overall though, there are earthquakes going on all the time, but mostly underwater and away from populated locations. just so happens the past couple of earthquakes have been on land.

i called my parents in taipei right after the earthquake....my mom's response:

"earthquake? what earthquake?....there was an earthquake?? okay, i'll check the news later when i have time...."

Crimson92 · 03-04-2010, 01:40 PM

the end of the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 1

2012 people!!!!

haha...i hope everyone is ok.

Kroy · 03-04-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jh valley

im legitimately starting to get worried about something hitting us :[

+1 i hate hearing about all these earthquakes

RambleJ · 03-04-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWCadet

Awwww, enjoy California!

You mean soon to be the Island of California.

Memphis1 · 03-04-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RambleJ

You mean soon to be the Island of California.

or atlantis... make sure you get your scuba gear ready

c0nstant · 03-04-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWCadet

Awwww, enjoy California!

thanks ma'am

mJ335 · 03-04-2010, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jh valley

im legitimately starting to get worried about something hitting us :[

I wouldn't be surprised.. it's happening all around the globe.. goddamn plate tectonic theory..

EVERYONE GO AND BUY DRINKING WATER THAT'LL LAST YOU FOR THREE MONTHS

FruitCake · 03-04-2010, 04:30 PM

just called back to make sure the family is okay, nobody in Taipei cares..LOL

03-04-2010, 03:01 AM	#1
Schumacher Second Lieutenant 29 Rep 219 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: A Box iTrader: (0)	Strong earthquake hits Taiwan; injuries reported http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...hKbrAD9E7LD9G0 TAIPEI, Taiwan — A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Taiwan on Thursday, terrifying residents, disrupting communications and triggering at least one large fire. Twelve people were injured, the National Fire Agency said. No tsunami alert was issued. The quake was centered in the same mountainous region of rural Kaohsiung county that endured the brunt of the damage from Typhoon Morakot, a devastating storm that killed about 700 people last August. Taiwanese actor Chu Chung-heng said he and other passengers were close to panic when the high-speed train on which they were traveling was dislodged from its track by the quake. "Many people in my car were screaming," he said. "I was so scared that I couldn't make a sound. The train shook very hard and I thought it was going to overturn." Rail service in southern and central Taiwan was suspended, as was the state-of-the-art subway system in Kaohsiung city, Taiwan's second largest with a population of 1.5 million. Kaohsiung is about 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Taipei. In nearby Tainan, a fire broke out in a textile factory shortly after the quake hit, sending huge plumes of black smoke billowing into the air. Power outages struck Taipei and at least one county to the south, and telephone service in many parts of Taiwan was spotty. Kuo Kai-wen, director of the Central Weather Bureau's Seismology Center, said the quake was not geologically related to the massive temblor that hit Chile last Saturday, but its intensity was unusual for the area. "This is the biggest quake to hit this region in more than a century," he said. The quake's epicenter was near the town of Jiashian, especially hard hit by last year's typhoon. A Kaohsiung county official told CTI TV news that some temporary housing built for typhoon survivors collapsed. The Ministry of Defense said troops were dispatched to Jiashian to report on the extent of the damage. In nearby Liugui an unidentified high school student described the quake as terrifying. "Everyone was running out of the classroom, and some people fell in the rush," she told ETTV. CTI said one person was slightly injured by falling debris in Kaohsiung, and a woman was hospitalized after a wall collapsed on her scooter in the southern city of Chiayi. Also in Chiayi, one person was hurt by a falling tree, government-owned Central News Agency said. A spokesman for President Ma Ying-jeou said authorities had been instructed to follow the quake situation closely and take steps to mitigate damage and dislocation. Ma was widely criticized for his government's slow response to last year's typhoon. The presidential office said he planned to visit Tainan on Thursday afternoon. Earthquakes frequently rattle Taiwan but most are minor and cause little or no damage. However, a 7.6-magnitude temblor in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people. In 2006 a 6.7-magnitude quake south of Kaohsiung severed undersea cables and disrupted telephone and Internet service for millions throughout Asia. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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03-04-2010, 03:06 AM	#2
sole cal Black Mamba 68 Rep 1,326 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SoCal 818 iTrader: (10)	damm __________________ www.ticketbeaters.com
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03-04-2010, 03:40 AM	#4
c0nstant Lieutenant General 1830 Rep 17,322 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1)	im legitimately starting to get worried about something hitting us :[
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ibeclueless What 142 Rep 9,325 Posts Drives: E92 328xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Quincy, MA iTrader: (1)	it is becoming more frequent now __________________ E92 328xi Space Gray Aero Lip \| M3 Side Skirts \| CF Performance Spoiler \| ACS Roof \| Gloss Black Grilles \| LUX H8 Angels \| BMW Performance Exhaust My E92 Photos
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03-04-2010, 04:30 PM	#14
FruitCake Banned 89 Rep 1,680 Posts Drives: '10 E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (19)	just called back to make sure the family is okay, nobody in Taipei cares..LOL
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