Australians have been caught up in a deadly earthquake that has toppled buildings and triggered landslides in Taiwan.
The 7.4 magnitude tremor struck off the east coast of the island nation on Wednesday morning, killing at least seven people and injuring at least 50.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Australians caught up in Taiwan earthquake terror.
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The morning commute came to a grinding halt, the force so great it pushed buildings onto their sides, with others collapsing completely.
The earthquake is the worst to hit the region in a quarter of a century.
Australians caught up in the disaster said it felt like a freight train was about to hit, with panic and confusion visible on the streets.
“The whole house was just violently shaking, and you’re powerless,” Australian in Taiwan Jack Brooker told 7NEWS.
“There’s nowhere you can go, nothing’s safe.”
The earthquake hit 10km off the coast of Taiwan near Hualien at 7.58am local time.
“It was terrifying,” Joey Tong, from Sydney, said.
“I was trying to find some place to hide, you know, maybe under the table or something.
“You just have to do what it takes to stay alive.”
The biggest shock lasted at least 30 seconds.
The tremors were so intense they caused landslides, meaning a terrifying wait for families stuck below.
A tsunami alert for three-metre waves was issued for Taiwan and Japan, then cancelled.
“We do expect aftershocks to continue for the weeks and months ahead,” Geoscience Australia seismologist Hadi Ghasemi said.
As of Wednesday night, the Australian Government said it was not aware of any Australian fatalities.