At 7:58 a.m. on April 3, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Hualien, Taiwan, killing at least 9 people and injuring more than 1,000. Many destinations and structures in Hualien County were damaged.
Derek Chou, Head The representative of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Vietnam said that after the earthquake, traffic in Hualien was affected. Tourist attractions and traffic elsewhere in Taiwan are operating normally.
Is it safe to travel to Taiwan?
According to the Taiwan Seismological Center, there is no clear recommendation on whether or not to visit the island at this time, but aftershocks as strong as 6.5 magnitude are expected to last for at least the next four days.
The April 3 earthquakes triggered nine landslides, sending debris down the Suhua Expressway in Hualien City, the worst-hit area. Many residential buildings were damaged, some collapsed.
Affected locations
The epicenter was about 18 kilometers south of Hualien, with surrounding areas being the worst affected. Three hikers were killed in Taroko National Park. Taiwanese authorities reported nine deaths and more than 1,000 injuries in the strongest earthquake in 25 years.
The giant cliff at the head of Guishan Island (Turtle Island) was damaged and collapsed into the sea after the earthquake. Tunnels and the 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 lifted a few hours later.
Advice from governments
The UK Foreign Office has updated its website on the April 3 Taiwan earthquake and warned citizens to "consult the Met Office website and other official sources for updates." While governments have not issued advice to "do not travel to Taiwan unless absolutely necessary," travelers should consider canceling their tours as refunds are unlikely. Travelers should contact their tour operators, hotels, and airlines for more information on their individual circumstances.
Are flights to Taiwan cancelled?
There are no reports of flights to Taiwan being canceled yet. But to be sure, travelers should contact the airline.
Some travel agencies in Vietnam with groups departing on April 4 still flew as usual, as no warning was issued. The destinations were also areas not affected by the earthquake such as Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung.
In case no warning is issued, tourists who have purchased the tour and do not go will not be refunded. Tourists need to contact the company or airline to change tickets or postpone departure time if they do not want to take the trip at this time.
TB (according to VnExpress)Source
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