NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Taiwan early Wednesday morning, causing significant disruptions and damage, particularly in the Zhonghe District of New Taipei City, where a printing factory warehouse collapsed.
Emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene to rescue individuals trapped under the debris. The rescue operation, which lasted three hours, focused on extracting those caught between the collapsed floors of the factory.
A factory employee recounted the terrifying moments when the earthquake struck. "Upon arrival at work, we saw falling rocks within our factory and heard reports of a similar incident in the neighboring site, resulting in minor injuries. Later, we learned that someone was trapped between the third and fourth floors," said one employee.
Another worker described the sequential collapse, "Sounds like the first floor could not sustain the pressure, so it collapsed. Then the second floor collapsed, followed by the third floor, continuously sinking downward."
As the day progressed, Taiwan experienced over 80 aftershocks, prompting officials to urge the public to remain vigilant and steer clear of the affected area.