A video circulating online captured a dramatic moment as a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan's east coast, leaving a man trapped in a swimming pool amidst surging waves. Despite the chaos, the individual remained surprisingly composed, opting not to attempt reaching safety on the poolside.
Online users reacted strongly to the situation, expressing both shock and worry. One person thought the situation was crazy, while another guessed that the man involved must be very scared. Someone else said they would have panicked and drowned right away in that situation. However, another praised the man for staying calm and handling the waves well, admitting that they would have probably panicked and tried to escape.
Seismology authorities confirmed that this was Taiwan's most powerful earthquake in a quarter-century, with the epicenter approximately 18 kilometers south of Hualien city.
Following the quake, chilling videos of collapsing buildings and skyscrapers trembling violently inundated social media platforms.
One footage shared by user Collin Rugg depicted a collapsed building as people fled from the debris-strewn area. Skyscrapers could be seen shaking intensely in the background. Rugg's caption read, "JUST IN: 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Taiwan, rocking the whole island and even causing several buildings to collapse." The video also highlighted the tsunami warning issued for Japan, with an NHK anchor urging evacuation: "Tsunami is coming. Please evacuate immediately. Do not stop. Do not go back."
Another video captured the unnerving sight of a bridge swaying violently as commuters, trapped in their vehicles, patiently awaited the tremors to subside.
In a separate clip, metro passengers clung to their seats and guardrails for safety during the quake. A user shared the video with the caption, "Passengers are witnessing the earthquake of magnitude 7.3 in Taiwan. That's really v massive."
A viral video depicted a mountainside collapsing, triggering a massive landslide. The user's caption read, "BREAKING: A landslide caused by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Taiwan."
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged assistance to Taiwan via a post on X, stating, "Japan stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to Taiwan, our neighbor across the sea, in times of difficulty."
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