<!–
<!–
<!– <!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
A massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake has struck Taiwan, raising fears that three-metre-high tsunami waves could hit Japan’s southern islands.
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a tsunami warning for the southern islands of the Far Eastern country following the quake, which struck shortly before 9am local Japanese time (12pm GMT, 1am UK time).
A post from the JMA disaster preparedness account on X, formerly Twitter, warned those in affected areas not to leave designated safe zones until given the all-clear.
A translation of the tweet read: ‘At 09:01 on the 3rd, a tsunami warning was issued. Tsunamis strike repeatedly. Do not leave your safe zone until the warning has been lifted.
The JMA says the island groups of Okinawa, Miyajokima and Yaeyama are at risk of tsunamis up to three meters (10 feet) high.
Taiwan’s Central Meteorological Administration agency said the earthquake could be felt across the island: it measured 7.2 at the epicenter and around four at its weakest point in the reaches farthest from the center of the tectonic shock.
Several videos were shared of the damage suffered in Hualien, a city on the east coast of Taiwan near the epicenter of the earthquake.
In several images, a large red glass-fronted tower was seen partially collapsed, tumbling toward the ground and resting at an angle as shocked onlookers looked on.
Another video from a webcam in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei showed the camera vibrating from seizures.
This is breaking news, there will be more to follow.
The earthquake struck shortly before 9am Japanese time (12am GMT, 1am UK time) in far eastern Taiwan, south of the coastal city of Hualien.
A map released by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) shows the epicenter of the earthquake off the coast of Taiwan (the ‘x’ symbol), as well as the islands most likely to be affected, highlighted in red.