A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Taiwan at approximately 11:50 p.m. local time Tuesday night. The earthquake was centered off the coast of Hualien County, with an intensity of 7 felt in Hualien City.
According to the latest statement from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, except for part of Hualien City, all other scenic spots and tourist attractions are open and operating normally. “Travelers can feel at east visiting these places,” the Tourism Bureau said.
According to the Tourism Bureau, the damage area was limited to some parts of Hualien City. The road to Taroko Gorge, from the section of Dayu Ling to Taroko, has been closed temporarily due to sporadic rockfall. Taiwan’s railways and highway traffic are both operating normally.
CBS News reports that at least six people were killed and 88 remain missing in the earthquake. Rescuers were continuing to work Wednesday to reach people trapped in buildings that have caved in or begun to tilt dangerously. The ground floor of the Marshal Hotel caved in, killing two of its employees. Another employee was freed from the rubble.
According to the latest information on its website, Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei is reporting few delays and cancellations in terms of arrivals, and it is not clear if these are related to the earthquake.
United Airlines has issued a flight change waiver for customers flying through that airport in response to the earthquake. Customers scheduled to fly February 7 – 15 can rebook through February 28 in the originally ticketed cabin (any fare class) and between the same city pair.
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