Over 50 were injured in the 7.4-magnitude tremor felt across the region.
The quake occurred at 8 a.m. local time, 21 miles deep, 11 miles south-southwest of Hualien City on Taiwan's east coast.
Four dead, over 50 injured per Taiwan's fire department, reports Reuters.
The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings in Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines, but these were later lifted. The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that the tsunami threat had passed.
At least 26 buildings, mostly in Hualien near the quake’s center, collapsed. The fire department is rescuing about 20 trapped people.
The earthquake was felt across Taiwan, causing Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung metro systems to be suspended, according to the Central News Agency.
The earthquake cut power to 87,000+ households and triggered aftershocks, with the largest measuring 6.5; the initial quake's magnitude was 7.2, per Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration.