Hongkongers have recounted how they fled outdoors to safety as they were caught up in Taiwan’s biggest earthquake in 25 years.

The quake on Wednesday toppled buildings in Hualien, while roads around the eastern city were hit by landslides. Authorities said several people had been killed and hundreds were injured.

A Hong Kong woman surnamed Chung, who is a teacher in Hualien, said she was in the middle of preparing a lesson when the earthquake struck.

Chung said books were falling off shelves and ceiling fans were shaking intensely. She said she immediately ran to a nearby field.

Another Hongkonger in Hualien said a water pipe burst in her hotel room and she and her family escaped to an outdoor carpark.

A woman surnamed Kwok, who was in Taichung, told RTHK that the quake was very different to others she had felt before.

"I was actually quite shocked when it happened because I was still sleeping and it's quite scary because it lasted for a while. The earthquakes I have experienced usually stop after a few seconds, but this one did not so it was quite scary," she said.

In Taipei, a traveller surnamed Mao said he and other guests at his hotel fled to the lobby in terror when the quake struck, with some people running out of their rooms barefoot.

Ross Feingold, who was also in Taipei, told RTHK that the building he was in was shaking fiercely.

"You think fourth floor, you are low to the ground and it wouldn't be so strong, but believe me an earthquake this strong even on the fourth floor, you can feel it. It's very strong and of course, everything was shaking. Shades on windows, things on shelves," he said.

As of 5pm, a total of 20 Hong Kong residents in Taiwan had asked the Immigration Department for help.

The department confirmed that all of them were safe and that it will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide support to those requesting assistance.

The Travel Industry Council said there are about 30 tour groups – involving 900 people – on the island, with two to three groups in Yilan County, not far from Hualien. The council said none of the groups had been affected.

And train services between Hong Kong and Xiamen, in the mainland province of Fujian, have been disrupted because of the quake.
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Last updated: 2024-04-03 HKT 20:09