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SCMP Reporters

Lawrence Chung

Taiwan’s Hualien city has been hit by a second, 5.7 magnitude earthquake almost 24 hours after a 6.4 magnitude quake killed at least seven people, injured 257 others and left 67 missing there.
The earthquake occurred at 11.21pm local time on Wednesday, in the same spot at Tuesday’s violent tremor – 21km northeast of Hualien – this time at a depth of 11km, according to the US Geological Survey. It came after more than 180 aftershocks.
Details on how the second earthquake has affected Hualien are still emerging.
Hong Kong tourists seek help after deadly quake hits Taiwan city Hualien


The second quake came as authorities in Hualien continue to search for at least 67 people believed to be still trapped inside damaged buildings, including 52 people in the Yun Men Tsui Ti building, a large commercial-residential complex.

The Central Emergency Operation Centre said four buildings in Hualien collapsed in the first quake. 
The bottom floor of the 11-storey Marshal Hotel caved in, while the 12-storey Yun Men Tsui Ti building, which housed an inn, was left leaning at a steep angle after the first and third floors were crushed.

Sections of the Suhua Highway connecting Ilan and Hualien counties were severely damaged. Cracks appeared on bridges and roads, leading to closures in some cases. Damage to gas pipes was also detected.
While power has been restored, more than 31,000 families are still left without fresh water.


The Mainland Affairs Council said one Chinese traveller died and six others were injured.
According to the Taiwan foreign ministry, nine Japanese are among the injured, but their injuries are not life-threatening, while 14 South Koreans and other foreign nationals were also injured. 

Earlier on Wednesday, Taiwanese authorities turned down an offer by China to help search for survivors, saying that they did not need additional manpower. 
The offer came amid tensions that have sustained since May 2016, when incoming Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen rejected the ‘one China’ policy that says that China is one country but allows for the Chinese and Taiwanese governments to differ on what “China” stands for.


The Mainland Affairs Council told the South China Morning Post it appreciated the offer of help – seen as an olive branch from Beijing – but that it was not needed. 
“At the moment, we have adequate manpower and facilities in support of the rescue operation,” said Chiu Chui-cheng, vice-chairman of the council, which takes care of mainland policy. “We deeply appreciate their offer, but so far we are not in need of their help.” 
Asked if this was a missed opportunity to break the ice with Beijing, Chiu said: “Basically it is a natural disaster and the rescue involves humanitarian efforts. They shouldn’t be used as [a bridge] for political connection.”
Taipei rejects Beijing’s offer of help with earthquake rescue mission - just before second quake

The first quake followed almost 100 smaller tremors that have hit the area in the last three days and came exactly two years after a quake of the same magnitude struck the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan, killing more than 100 people.
Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes.
The island’s worst tremor in recent decades was a 7.6-magnitude quake in September 1999 that killed around 2,400 people.


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Taiwan

Second 5.7 magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan’s Hualien,  24 hours after first quake killed at least 7 and left 67 missing

The second quake came at 11.21pm local time on Wednesday - and just hours after Taipei turned down Beijing’s offer of help

Rescuers work inside a leaning building collapsed after a strong earthquake in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. A strong earthquake struck eastern Taiwan late Tuesday night. (Kenzaburo Fukuhara/Kyodo News via AP)

Rescuers work on a search operation at an apartment building collapsed after a strong earthquake in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck late Tuesday night caused several buildings to cave in and tilt dangerously. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

Rescuers in Hualien, Taiwan, block off the area outside a building that tilted to one side after its foundations collapsed during Tuesday’s 6.4-magnitude earthquake. On Wednesday, almost exactly 24 hours later, the city was struck again by a 5.7-magnitude quake. Photo: AFP

At least seven killed, more than 200 injured after magnitude 6.4 quake strikes Taiwan, trapping people in collapsed buildings

Emergency services deal with the aftermath of the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck in Hualien, Taiwan, late on Tuesday night. Photo: AP

Rescue workers search through rubble outside the Marshal Hotel in Hualien, eastern Taiwan early February 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake struck the island. A hotel on the east coast of Taiwan has collapsed after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake, the government said. / AFP PHOTO / STR / Taiwan OUT

A 6.4 magnitude quake struck 22km off the coast of Taiwan's northeastern port city Hualien just before midnight on Feburary 6, 2018

Costumers escaped from the damaged Marshal Hotel stay outside in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, after a strong quake on February 7, 2018. A hotel on the east coast of Taiwan has collapsed after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake, the government said. / AFP PHOTO / YANG JEN-FU

Taipei rejects Beijing’s offer of help with earthquake rescue mission - just before second quake

Rescue workers recover a body from a damaged building in Hualien on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Rescue workers block off the area outside a building which tilted to one side after its foundation collapsed in Hualien after a strong 6.4-magnitude quake rocked eastern Taiwan early on February 7, 2018. Rescue workers pulled survivors and bodies from buildings tilting precariously in the Taiwanese city of Hualien on February 7 after an overnight earthquake killed at least six people, injured more than 200 and left dozens missing. Emergency responders were focusing on a 12-storey apartment block and a nearby hotel, both of which were leaning dangerously with their lower floors pancaked after the 6.4-magnitude quake hit the popular tourist city late Tuesday. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL YANG

TOPSHOT - Costumers escaped from the damaged Marshal Hotel stay outside in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, after a strong quake on February 7, 2018. A hotel on the east coast of Taiwan has collapsed after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake, the government said. / AFP PHOTO / YANG JEN-FU

epa06501541 A handout photo made available by Taiwan's Presidential Office shows President Tsai Ing-wen (L) visiting a man who was injured in the earthquake at a hospital in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, 07 February 2018. According to local media reports at least four people were killed and more than 200 injured in the 6.4 magnitude earthquake on 06 February that severely damaged and partially collapsed at least four buildings. Rescue operations are underway as more than 100 people are believed to be missing in the rubble. EPA-EFE/TAIWAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Fire fighters look for survivors after an earthquake hit Hualien, Taiwan February 7, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

News

China

The second quake came at 11.21pm local time on Wednesday - and just hours after Taipei turned down Beijing’s offer of help


Earthquakes

Second 5.7 magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan’s Hualien, 24 hours after first quake killed at least 7 and left 67 missing

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The second quake came at 11.21pm local time on Wednesday - and just hours after Taipei turned down Beijing’s offer of help

The second quake came at 11.21pm local time on Wednesday - and just hours after Taipei turned down Beijing’s offer of help