Earthquake Hits Taiwan: How Strict Building Codes Averted a Larger Disaster

Rescue workers near the semi-collapsed ten-story Uranus building on Xuanyuan Road on April 3, 2024. Image © Shufu Liu, Office of the President via WIkipedia under licnese CC BY 2.0On April 3, Taiwan was hit by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, the strongest one in 25 years. According to the latest reports, nine people have been killed, and at least 900 others have been injured by damaged buildings and landslides on the island. The seism was centered off the eastern coast of Hualien County, severe