Strong earthquake hits southern Taiwan, building collapses and train carriages derailed (update)

A rescuer walks past a collapsed building after an earthquake at Yuli Township in Hualien county, eastern Taiwan on Sunday, September 18, 2022. A strong earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan on September 18, bringing at least three buildings down in a small town and tearing up roads -- but forecasters said the threat of a regional tsunami had passed.- AFP

TAIPEI, Sept 18 (Reuters/AFP): A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the sparsely populated southeastern part of Taiwan on Sunday, the island’s weather bureau said, derailing train carriages, causing a convenience store to collapse and trapping people on a mountain.

The weather bureau said the epicentre was in Taitung county, and followed a 6.4 magnitude temblor on Saturday evening in the same area, which caused no casualties.