A strong earthquake has struck off the coast of southwestern Japan – with reports of power outages in parts of Taiwan.

Tsunami warnings were issued after the quake – which had an estimated magnitude of 7.2 – struck at 7.58am local time with residents in coastal areas of Okinawa urged to evacuate.

The first wave of a tsunami is believed to have already struck two of Japan‘s southern islands – with waves of up to three metres expected to reach larger areas of the southwestern coast.

Japan’s meteorological agency described the quake as very shallow, which can cause greater damage.

Image:
Pic: TVBS

A five-story building in the city of Hualien in Taiwan appeared to be heavily damaged. The first floor of the building had collapsed leaving the rest leaning at a 45-degree angle.

Taiwan state media reported that some people were trapped inside collapsed buildings.

In the capital, Taipei, tiles fell from the roof of older buildings and within some newer office complexes.

Train services across the island – which is home to 23 million people – were suspended as were underground services in Taipei.

Pic: TVBS
Image:
Pic: TVBS

According to a witness, the quake could be felt as far as Shanghai in China.

Multiple aftershocks were felt in Taipei in the hour after the initial quake. The US Geological Society said one of the subsequent quakes was 6.5 magnitude and seven miles deep.

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The earthquake was believed to be the biggest in Taiwan since 1999.

The country lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a line of seismic faults in the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur.

While, in Japan, a 9 magnitude earthquake in March 2011 was the strongest in the country’s history – triggering a massive tsunami and the world’s worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.