Taiwan's strongest earthquake in 25 years kills nine

Taiwan's most powerful earthquake in a quarter century rocked the island on Wednesday morning, killing at least nine people, injuring more than 900 and causing widespread damage. Over 50 people were reportedly trapped.

The magnitude 7.3 quake struck Taiwan's east coast near Hualien at 7:58 am, triggering more than 100 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 3.4 to 6.5.

The epicenter was located at a depth of approximately 12 kilometers on the boundary of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, an area prone to seismic activity, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

"The shaking was intense and lasted for almost a minute," a Hualien resident, surnamed Lee, told Beijing News. "It was impossible to stand still, and objects kept falling off the shelves."

Local authorities have announced the suspension of classes in schools and work in government and private offices in Hualien, where a 10-story building collapsed and several others were left leaning precariously following the tremors.

Significant damage has been reported in other parts of Taiwan. Tiles fell from older buildings as the earthquake shook Taipei, and schools evacuated their students to sports fields, equipping them with yellow safety helmets, The Associated Press reported.

Over 300,000 households across the island experienced power outages during the tremors, with more than 80,000 still lacking power despite ongoing repairs.