7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Taiwan, Tsunami Warning Issued , footage shows water tanker displaced Footage from Hualien shows that severity of tremors , water tanker got displaced from its location A major earthquake hit Taiwan's east shortly before 8:00 am (0000 GMT) local time Wednesday, prompting tsunami warnings for the self-ruled island as well as parts of southern Japan. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake had a magnitude of 7.4, with its epicentre 18 kilometres (11 miles) south of Taiwan's Hualien City at a depth of 34.8 km. Japan's Meteorological Agency put the magnitude at 7.5.Tsunami waves as high as three metres (10 feet) were expected immediately for remote Japanese islands in the region, including Miyakojima island, the agency said. "Evacuate!" said a banner on Japanese national broadcaster NHK.