Taiwan suffers the strongest earthquake in 25 years: multiple deaths and injuries, collapsed buildings and destroyed roads are reported
Taiwan suffered its strongest earthquake in 25 years on Wednesday, a deadly 7.4 magnitude quake that shook the island's east coast, toppling several buildings, causing landslides and injuring more than 800 people.
Taiwan's National Fire Agency reported that at least nine people were killed, 882 injured and 131 others remain trapped. The deaths occurred in Hualien County, where a hiker was among the dead.
According to Taiwanese authorities, buildings have collapsed in Hualien County, thousands of homes have been left without power and a major highway on the east coast has been closed due to landslides and rockslides.
Several aftershocks have been recorded in Taiwan, including one with a magnitude of 6.5, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). In addition, the island's Central Meteorological Administration warned that aftershocks are expected over the next three or four days, which could have a magnitude of 6.5 to 7.0, an agency spokesperson added.
In this image, taken from a video posted by TVBS, a partially collapsed building is seen in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, on Wednesday, April 3. (Credit: TVBS/AP)
The world's attention turned to Taiwan , a country located in East Asia east of China, which suffered one of the worst natural disasters in history after being shaken by a powerful earthquake . It is the strongest earthquake in the last 25 years, which caused deaths and hundreds of injuries .
What happened in Taiwan
04/03/2024 VIDEO: Taiwan.- At least four dead and 57 injured after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake and numerous aftershocks in Taiwan. The authorities of Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines withdraw the tsunami alert SOCIETY ASIA ASIA TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN-MEDITERRANEAN SEISMOLOGICAL CENTER (EMSC) - Credits: @EUROPEAN-MEDITERRANEAN SEISMOLOG
The tremor that shook the Asian island occurred early this Wednesday, April 3, at precisely 7:58 in the morning. According to Taiwan 's seismological agency , the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale . Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed it at 7.5 and indicated that it had its epicenter 18 km south of the Taiwanese city of Hualien, with a depth of 34.8 km. “The earthquake was close to the ground and is shallow. It was felt throughout Taiwan and the islands (...). It is the strongest in 25 years,” Wu Chien-fu, director of the Taiwanese Seismological Center, told reporters , referring to the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in September 1999 that left 2,400 dead.
Local authorities indicated that they only anticipated a relatively mild earthquake of magnitude 4 and for that reason they did not send alerts, since it is an area accustomed to this type of natural phenomena and they usually carry out evacuation drills. That is why in the hours that followed, its inhabitants remained calm and followed the protocols.
At least nine people died, 821 were injured, 127 remain trapped or stranded and 28 buildings collapsed after the strong earthquake registered this Wednesday in Taiwan, which has already left more than a hundred aftershocks. different magnitudes, official sources reported.
The earthquake, whose magnitude was 7.2 according to the Central Meteorological Agency (CWA) of Taiwan and 7.4 according to the United States Geological Survey, occurred at 7:58 on Wednesday (23:58 GMT on Tuesday) in the sea, specifically 25 kilometers southeast of the eastern county of Hualien.
This area has been the most affected by the earthquake, both in loss of life and in material damage, since numerous buildings and infrastructure have suffered damage and at least two blocks of houses were partially collapsed.
As of 4:30 p.m., the island had recorded 123 aftershocks of varying intensity, including nine with a magnitude of between 5 and 6, according to the CWA.
Likewise, according to the state electricity company Taipower, a total of 371,275 homes were left without electricity after the earthquake, although around 99% have already recovered electricity supply.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen asked the population to remain calm and take extreme precautions, since new aftershocks of between 6.5 and 7 degrees of the earthquake are likely to occur in the coming days.
This earthquake is the most intense that Taiwan has suffered since September 21, 1999, when a magnitude 7.6 earthquake killed 2,416 people.
Taiwan sits at the confluence of the Philippine and Eurasian plates, so earthquakes are frequent on the island.
Taiwan was shaken on Wednesday by the most powerful earthquake in the last 25 years. At least nine people were killed and hundreds injured , while buildings and streets were damaged and train service was disrupted. The truth is that Taiwan is no stranger to powerful earthquakes, but it has managed to relatively contain a catastrophe for the island's 23 million residents thanks to its excellent earthquake preparedness, experts say.
Wednesday's earthquake measured 7.2 according to Taiwan's earthquake monitoring agency, while the U.S. Geological Survey estimated it at 7.4. It damaged several buildings in Hualien, but caused only minor losses in the capital, Taipei, although it was strongly felt there.
A rescue worker stands near the cordoned off site of a leaning building after an earthquake in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. - Credits: @Johnson Lai
According to a count by the island's fire department, cited by The New York Times , one building completely collapsed, 15 others were in a state of partial collapse, and 67 others were damaged.
Furthermore, it occurred in the middle of the morning rush hour, but it only slightly affected normal transportation. A few minutes later, parents were returning to accompany their children to school and workers were heading to the offices.
“Taiwan's earthquake preparedness is among the most advanced in the world ,” said Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology. “The island has implemented strict building codes, a world-class seismological network and widespread public education campaigns on earthquake safety.”
“ The skills, capabilities, equipment and training are second to none ,” said disaster response expert Steve Glassey.
Taiwan's strongest earthquake in a quarter-century shook the island during Wednesday morning rush hour, damaging buildings and roads
The area is particularly vulnerable to tremors due to the tension built up by the interactions of two tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can cause sudden releases in the form of earthquakes.
The region's mountainous landscape can amplify ground shaking and cause landslides. Several such landslides occurred on Taiwan's east coast, near the epicenter of Wednesday's earthquake, as debris fell into tunnels and roads, crushing vehicles and causing several deaths.
The government continually reviews the level of seismic resistance required for new and existing buildings (which can increase construction costs) and offers subsidies to residents who wish to test the seismic resistance of their buildings.
Following a 2016 earthquake in the city of Tainan, on the island's southwest coast, five people involved in the construction of a 17-story apartment building that was the only major structure that collapsed, killing dozens, were found guilty. of negligence and imprisoned.
What is happening with Jennifer Lopez? Without a doubt, the singer and actress from the Bronx is going through a bad streak, because at this moment, she accumulates more criticism than successes.
After 10 years of musical absence, JLo returned in February 2024 with the album 'This is Me…Now' , which was accompanied by a short film of the same name and a film 'The Greatest Love Story Told', which They can be seen worldwide on Amazon Prime Video, and what would be a world tour.
However, the album has gone unnoticed. The short was destroyed by thousands of people on social networks, where they have described it as “absurd” and “ridiculous”, as well as the film whose central theme is her relationship with her now husband Ben Affleck and the dynamic they have as a couple. . As icing on the cake, due to low sales of what would be her tour, JLo has had to cancel dates on her tour.
Ben Affleck was the source of inspiration for JLo's new era. (Photo by Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)
Despite having invested approximately $20 million in his new album and using his extensive platform to constantly promote his films and album, the return on investment has not been satisfactory. In fact, the 54-year-old singer already announced it in her documentary. "I didn't even have to make the record. Nobody was asking for new Jennifer Lopez album material, you know?"
Rob Shuter, JLo's former publicist, believes that part of the failure of the new album would be due to the little interest that exists around her romance with Affleck.
"Jennifer has always been a genius at marketing and public relations, but she miscalculated and believed that the world is still interested in her love with Ben Affleck. But no one cares about Bennifer. The world has moved on," Shuter said.
Although the diva from the Bronx has not said anything about the criticism of her films, the low sales of her album and even the cancellation of some of her shows, it has emerged in the US entertainment press that she would be sad. "She left her heart and soul in this project. It was a big disappointment," commented a source close to the singer, adding that she would not perform in stadiums with empty seats.
As we have seen in the last two years, artists have taken advantage of the end of the pandemic to go on tour around the world. JLo, with her new album, intended to do the same, but she did not have the success of colleagues like Taylor Swift who even had to create her own system to sell her tickets and avoid resellers.
You've just finished training and a feeling of hunger hits you . It is not something strange, but rather a common sensation, especially after having completed an intense training session . This phenomenon will depend on a series of factors related to the functioning of our body and its reaction to sports practice.
Furthermore, it must be taken into account that this increase in appetite after sports practice is not linked to the burning of calories, contrary to what we may think, but rather occurs due to a decrease in blood glucose (sugar) levels . that provide us with immediate energy, present in muscle glycogen. This decrease in sugar in our body causes the mobilization of our reserve and awakens this feeling of hunger in our brain.
It is not something that happens to all people equally, because on the other hand, we find other people for whom the practice of physical exercise does not cause this sensation or, quite the contrary, what it generates is a loss of appetite. As we anticipated, this is because physiological factors intervene that vary in each person . They influence, for example, age, sex, type of diet or sports activity that you do regularly. And to that we must also add the characteristics of the exercise , because depending on its intensity and duration, they influence the increase in appetite.
What if you eat after doing sports?
But let's focus on the case of those who are hungry: if we eat immediately after performing physical exercise, we must do so in a healthy way , not only with respect to the nutrients that we are going to incorporate, but also in terms of the way to do it. Taking this into account, the experts from the Nutrition Area of Club Metropolitan offer us these recommendations on the diet to follow after the activity.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are looking for a new love nest
2024 Backgrid/The Grosby Group
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were spotted exploring real estate options in New York's Upper East Side. The couple toured different properties, looking for a future love nest that would be spacious and bright, with space for their five children and with the best views of the city.
Shakira, tennis fan
2024 Media Punch/The Grosby Group
Shakira was photographed watching the match between Jannik Sinner and Grigor Dimitrov during the men's final of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The artist looked phenomenal in a huge pair of futuristic glasses, a cream-colored corset with a zipper in the middle and a white miniskirt.
Bianca Censori leaves little to the imagination
2024 Backgrid/The Grosby Group
Bianca Censori, Kanye West 's current wife , caused a stir on social media after her recent appearance in Oxnard, California. The young woman was seen wearing a provocative outfit that left little to her imagination.
Kristen Stewart shares a surprising statement that has left many speechless. The acclaimed actress has categorically stated that she will never participate in films produced by Marvel Studios, describing them as "a nightmare." Spencer 's star (85%) puts the MCU productions on the line, which in recent years have been especially criticized on social networks.
Stewart , known for her work in independent films and arthouse dramas, has built a distinguished career since she rose to fame with her starring role in the Twilight film saga (48%) . Since then, she has showcased her talents in a wide range of projects, from intimate dramas to psychological thrillers. Her presence in her industry makes it clear that she is not just any voice lost in the noise, but a source of solid critical opinion.
Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in Spencer (Source: IMDb)
What did Stewart say about the Marvel movies?
Marvel Studios films have dominated the global box office for more than a decade with their interconnected cinematic universe and iconic superheroes. They have redefined the superhero film genre and set new standards for storytelling and visual effects in commercial cinema. Despite their massive success, Marvel Studios films are not without criticism. While many praise its ability to entertain and its visual spectacularity, others argue that it may lack originality and depth in narrative. Repetitive tendencies in the plots and criticism of the lack of creative risk have been pointed out.
