Taiwan is grappling with the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck the eastern coast of Hualien County on Wednesday. The 7.2 magnitude tremor, the strongest to hit the country in a quarter-century, has left a trail of devastation and triggered extensive relief and rescue operations.

As of 7 pm Wednesday, officials confirmed nine fatalities, with the number expected to rise. The earthquake also injured over 946 people, with 137 still unaccounted for.

According to the Taipei Times, the epicenter of the quake was located 25 kilometers southeast of Hualien, striking at a shallow depth of 15.5 kilometers. Taroko National Park witnessed a tragic toll, with four fatalities caused by falling rocks.

Transportation routes were also severely impacted. A truck driver lost his life after rockslides struck Suhua Highway, while another motorist in Desingshui Tunnel perished under falling debris.

Other confirmed casualties include a worker at Taiwan Cement Corp. who died after being hit by rocks, and a woman who succumbed while trying to save her pet cat from a collapsed building in Hualien. The city itself suffered significant structural damage, with many buildings tilted at precarious angles. By 3:30 pm Wednesday, the Central Emergency Operation Center had reported the collapse of 28 structures.