Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday mourned the loss of lives in the earthquake which rocked Taiwan and left nine people dead.
Expressing solidarity with the people of the region, Modi posted on X: “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to earthquakes in Taiwan today. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. We stand in solidarity with the resilient people of Taiwan as they endure the aftermath and recover from it.”
Outgoing Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and President-elect Lai Ching-Te expressed gratitude to Modi for his support to the people.
“We are deeply grateful for your kind words and support, @narendramodi, at this challenging time. Your solidarity means a great deal to the people of Taiwan as we all work toward a swift recovery,” Tsai wrote on X.
Lai posted on X: “Thank you, Prime Minister Modi @narendramodi, for your heartwarming message. Your support & solidarity are a source of strength to the people of Taiwan during these trying times.”
The 7.3-magnitude quake in Taiwan on Wednesday morning had left nine people dead and 1,011 people injured as of 10 pm, according to the local emergency operation center.
Meanwhile, more than 100 people were trapped following the earthquake that hit the sea area near Hualien County, Taiwan, data from the center showed.
As of 10 pm, rescuers had successfully saved 24 out of the 25 residents trapped in a severely tilted building in Hualien. Tragically, the last remaining individual, a woman, showed no signs of life when she was rescued, Xinhua reported.
At least 28 buildings collapsed throughout Taiwan following the earthquake, with 17 of them located in Hualien County. Local authorities reported power outages affecting over 360,000 households, alongside water cuts affecting more than 120,000 households.
According to an official from Taiwan transportation authorities, the railway linking Yilan County and Hualien has been severely disrupted, with multiple collapses and falling rocks reported.
Ongoing aftershocks in Hualien have hindered repair personnel from accessing affected areas, the official said.
Taiwan’s meteorological agency called the earthquake the strongest one to hit the island in 25 years since a deadly quake struck on Sept. 21, 1999.