A building was destroyed after an earthquake in Hualien, Taiwan, April 4, 2024. Photo: Reuters

The deaths and stranded cases were reported in Hualien County, which is near the epicenter of the earthquake.

Kuo Kai-wen, former director of the Central Weather Administration Seismological Center, described Wednesday's 7.2 magnitude earthquake as having an energy equivalent to around 32 atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima.

Aftershocks of magnitude 6.5-7 were still possible in the next three or four days, according to a seismologist.