Taiwan was hit by its strongest earthquake in 25 years this morning, of a 7.2 degree magnitude.
Seven people have been killed.
736 people were injured and 77 stranded.
The quake and aftershocks also caused 24 landslides and damage to 35 roads, bridges and tunnels.
The highway system and a series of buildings are damaged. A five-story building in Hualien County, near the offshore epicenter, was left leaning at a 45-degree angle, with its first floor collapsed.
Schools evacuated their students to sports fields, equipping them with yellow safety helmets. Some children covered themselves with textbooks to guard against falling objects as aftershocks continued.
Authorities said they had expected a relatively mild quake of magnitude 4 and accordingly did not send out alerts, reports the AP.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami wave of 30 centimeters was detected on the coast of Yonaguni island about 15 minutes after the quake struck.
