Taiwan earthquake: Dozens trapped in tunnels as nine dead and more than 800 injured

• Nine people confirmed dead
• At least 882 injured
• More than 70 people remain trapped
• Fifty people on minibuses missing after phone networks go down

Taiwan was struck Wednesday by its most powerful earthquake in a quarter of a century. At least nine people were killed and hundreds injured, buildings and highways damaged and train service interrupted.

Taiwan is no stranger to powerful earthquakes yet their toll on the high-tech island’s 23 million residents has been relatively contained thanks to its excellent earthquake preparedness, experts say.

Here is a closer look at Taiwan’s history of earthquakes:

Dozens are understood to be trapped in highway tunnels following the earthquake in Taiwan.

According to Taiwan’s National Fire Agency (NFA), people are trapped in two road tunnels along the Suhua Highway, which runs down the east coast.

It is one of the most dangerous roads in Taiwan, straddling between the mountainside and ocean.

Rescue teams are working to get to those trapped, with CNN reporting that 75 people who were stranded in various tunnels had been rescued in the morning.

Experts are saying that the severity of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake and its impact on Taiwan since the New Year’s Day quake in Japan.

“This magnitude 7.4 earthquake on the central east coast of Taiwan is the largest earthquake to have occurred since the New Year’s Day earthquake on the Noto Peninsula of Japan,” Adam Pascale, chief scientist at the Seismology Research Centre, said.

The reason for the high magnitude is Taiwan’s unique location, professor Meghan S Miller from The Australian National University, explained.

“The M7.4 earthquake that occurred 35 km beneath the east coast of Taiwan was the result of the convergence between the Philippine Sea plate and the Eurasian plate. This complex tectonic setting has produced many other large (M7+) earthquakes historically,” Dr Miller said.

Taiwan’s national fire agency says authorities have lost contact with 50 people in minibuses after a powerful earthquake downed phone networks.

More than 70 other people are trapped but believed to be alive, some in a coal mine.

Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter-century rocked the island during the morning rush hour today.