After the 7.4 magnitude earthquake, Hualien city was affected, other tourist attractions and flights to Taiwan operated normally but aftershocks remained.
At 7:58 a.m. on April 3, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Hualien area, Taiwan, killing at least 9 people and injuring more than 1,000 people. Many destinations and works in Hoa Lien district were damaged.
Derek Chou, Chief A representative of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Vietnam said that after the earthquake occurred, traffic in Hualien was affected. Attractions and transportation elsewhere in Taiwan are operating normally.
Is it safe to travel to Taiwan?
According to the Taiwan Seismological Center, there is no clear recommendation whether or not to go to the island at this time, but aftershocks up to 6.5 degrees are expected to last for at least the next 4 days.
The earthquakes on April 3 caused nine landslides, and debris fell on the Suhua Expressway in Hualien City – the most severely affected area. Many residential buildings were damaged, some collapsed.
Affected locations
The epicenter was located about 18 km south of Hualien, with surrounding areas being the worst affected. Three hikers have died in Taroko National Park. Taiwanese officials recorded 9 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries in the strongest earthquake in 25 years.
The giant cliff at the head of Turtle Island (Guishan or Turtle island) was damaged and collapsed into the sea after the earthquake. The tunnel and train system in Hualien were damaged and disrupted.
Do earthquakes cause tsunamis?
After the 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred, the Philippines and Japan issued tsunami warnings. However, these warnings were removed a few hours later.
Advice from national governments
The British Foreign Ministry updated the Taiwan earthquake situation on April 3 on its website and warned citizens “should refer to information on the Weather Forecast Agency website and other official sources to understand the situation.” image”. When governments of other countries have not issued advice “do not travel to Taiwan unless necessary”, tourists should consider canceling their tour because there is a high possibility that they will not be refunded. Tourists should contact tour, hotel, and air ticket providers for more information for each individual case.
Are flights to Taiwan cancelled?
To date, there is no information about flights to Taiwan being canceled. But to be sure, travelers should contact the airline.
Some travel companies in Vietnam with groups departing on April 4 still fly normally, because no warnings have been issued. The destinations are also localities not affected by earthquakes such as Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. In case no warning is issued, tourists who have purchased a tour and do not go will not receive a refund. Tourists need to contact the company or airline to change tickets or reschedule departure time if they do not want to make the trip at this time.