Four people die as Taiwan experiences its biggest earthquake in 25 years.

Digital Desk: On Wednesday, an earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale slammed Taiwan, resulting in a tsunami that also hit Yonaguni Island in Japan, killing at least four people and injuring several others. This is Taiwan's largest earthquake in 25 years, since a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in 1999 devastated the nation's Nantou county, killing over 2,500 people and wounding over 1,300 more.The Associated Press noted that local fire department officials stated the four fatalities occurred in Hualien county, the epicentre of the earthquake. In Hualien, the earthquake also caused structural damage, and train services were halted throughout Taiwan. Schools and government offices were given the option to postpone their work and classes. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported the magnitude of the earthquake to be 7.4, but Taiwan's seismic monitoring agency reported a measurement of 7.2.

At 7:58 a.m., an earthquake with a depth of roughly 35 km occurred approximately 18 km to the southwest of Hualien. Multiple aftershocks, one of which was 6.5 magnitude and roughly 11.8 km deep, were reported to have struck Taipei by the USGS. In Hualien, a five-story building partially collapsed to the first level, leaving the structure slanted 45 degrees. In the meantime, train services were also halted throughout Taiwan, and there have been reports of building tiles falling in Taipei, the country's capital.

The national legislature, a converted school constructed prior to World War II, reportedly sustained damage to its ceiling and walls, according to the Associated Press. A landslip was also caused by the earthquake; video of it has gone viral on social media. Around fifteen minutes after the earthquake that struck Taiwan, according to Japanese authorities, a tsunami wave about one foot in size was seen on Yonaguni Island.

Residents of Okinawa prefecture's coastal areas were advised to seek shelter as the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning, indicating that waves as high as three metres were predicted to reach the country's southwest coast. This was Okinawa's first tsunami warning in 26 years, according to the JMA; the last one was issued in 1998 following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that occurred south of Ishigaki Island. The Self-Defense Force of Japan has rushed planes to assess the tsunami's effects and was setting up shelters for refugees.

Japan Airlines, the national airline, has cancelled all of its flights from the Okinawa and Kagoshima regions and rerouted those that were scheduled to go to places that were under a tsunami advisory. CNN was informed by an Okinawa airport representative that all planes had been rerouted and that staff members had been relocated to the third level in preparation for the tsunami's arrival. Hawaii and Guam are not in danger, according to the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, despite China having not issued any tsunami warnings for the country's mainland.