Dramatic images flood social media after Taiwan quake
On the day before Lunar New Year's Eve, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck southern Taiwan. At least two buildings fell in the city of Tainan, one of the island's oldest cities, according to local media reports.
The quake, which hit 3:57 a.m. Saturday local time, or 11:57 a.m. Pacific time Friday, was particularly bad because it was very shallow — about 6 miles underground — and the epicenter was on the island, instead of offshore, said U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Paul Caruso.
Bystanders and news outlets took to social media to broadcast photos of the damage and rescue efforts underway.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
