A series of videos have captured the moment Taiwan was struck by its most powerful earthquake in more than two decades.
Several people have died, hundreds have been injured, and work is under way to rescue dozens trapped in or beneath collapsed or damaged buildings.
The island’s earthquake monitoring agency said Wednesday morning’s quake was magnitude 7.2, while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.4 and Japan’s meteorological agency said it was 7.7.
The epicentre of the initial earthquake was about 11 miles southwest of Hualien and about 22 miles deep.
A series of videos have emerged of the incident, including the moment a diligent journalist continues to deliver her news report while the studio shakes around her.
Another shows a swimmer in what appears to be a rooftop pool, rocking with the rhythm of the waves as they splash over the sides.
Other footage from below a rooftop pool shows water splashing over the side of a high-rise building, creating an urban waterfall-type effect.
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Water falls down skyscraper
In one heart-stopping video, motorists are seen coming to a stop as the motorway begins to violently rock.
Separate footage shows motorists and motorcyclists stopped on Zhongzheng Bridge, in Taipei, as it shakes beneath their feet.
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Highway bounces during Taiwan earthquake
Meanwhile, footage from the capital’s metro system shows commuters remaining calm despite the train rocking from side-to-side on the tracks.
Inside people’s homes, footage taken during the earthquake shows items falling from shelves and cabinets as the walls shake.
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Earthquake shakes Taipei Metro
In Taiwan’s mountainous countryside, one clip shows a huge landslide – caused by the earthquake – careering towards a town below.
Video has also emerged of the aftermath of the earthquake, with a number of buildings tilting to one side after suffering damage.
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Taiwan earthquake triggers landslide
Taiwan lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a line of seismic faults where most of the world’s earthquakes occur.
Taiwan’s worst quake in recent years struck in 1999, with a magnitude of 7.7, causing 2,400 deaths, injuring around 100,000 and destroying thousands of buildings.
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Earthquake wakes dogs and owner
In March 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake was the strongest in Japan’s history – triggering a massive tsunami and the world’s worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.
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The earthquake led to a small tsunami in some coastal areas of Japan, but warnings were later lifted.
Chinese media confirmed the earthquake was felt in Shanghai and several provinces along China’s south-eastern coast.
