Taiwan supermarket shelves collapse in 6.1 magnitude quake as shoppers flee

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Taitung County in Taiwan on Wednesday evening, causing supermarket shelves to collapse and sending shoppers and staff fleeing.

The quake hit at 5.47pm with its epicenter 10.1 kilometers north of the Taitung county government at a shallow depth of 11.9 kilometers. The strongest shaking, rated at a lower level 5 intensity, was felt in Beinan Township.

Closed-circuit television footage from a supermarket showed tall shelves shaking violently within seconds, with goods raining down loudly as people scrambled for exits.

Local residents described it as the strongest quake they had felt in recent years. The Taitung Prison wall cracked and ceiling tiles fell at the National Taitung University Affiliated Sports School, but no injuries were reported.

Kaohsiung's MRT and light rail services halted for five minutes for inspections, while Taichung's MRT slowed for checks. Tremors were felt across the island, with level 4 intensity in Hualien and Pingtung counties.