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The most devastating earthquakes of all time
Seven killed as 7.2 magnitude earthquake strikes Taiwan
© Getty Images
Taiwan's worst earthquake in 25 years struck the country's east coast on the morning of April 3. Luckily, the eastern county of Hualien, which suffered the worst of the damage, is sparsely populated, but the natural disaster still took seven lives. A further 700 people were injured, and an estimated 77 people have been trapped by collapsed infrastructure. Many buildings toppled over or were raised to the ground by the powerful tremors. The majority of those trapped are in a tunnel north of Hualien city. Major landslides were triggered in the mountain regions where buildings were destroyed. Strong tremors were also felt in the capital city of Taipei, at the northern tip of the island nation, causing the subway system to be shut down temporarily. A tsunami warning was issued for southern Japan and the Philippines, but was later called off. More than 50 aftershocks were recorded. "At present, the most important thing, the top priority, is to rescue people," said President-elect Lai Ching-te.
Every year, thousands of tiny tremors are recorded all over the planet, some of which are so small that they go unnoticed. However, some earthquakes are remembered throughout history for their unparalleled destruction and devastation.
Click through the gallery to see some of the highest-magnitude earthquakes in history.
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