Seventy people are trapped in a mining area in the Heping district in northern central Taiwan after the country was rocked by its strongest earthquake in 25 years.

       Sixty-four people were trapped in one coal mine, with six people people in another, the National Fire Agency (NFA) said.

       The devastating quake has seen landslides crashing down from mountainous areas and tens of thousands left without power.

       Wednesday morning experienced magnitude 7.2, Taiwan's earthquake monitoring agency said.

       The US Geological Survey estimated it to be 7.4, while Japan's meteorological agency reported it as 7.7.

       READ MORE: More than 100 people trapped with many in underground tunnels after Taiwan quake

       The quake, which also injured more than 900, was centred off the coast of rural, mountainous Hualien County, where some buildings leaned at severe angles, their ground floors crushed. Just over 150 kilometres (93 miles) away in the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings and schools evacuated their students to sports fields, equipping them with yellow safety helmets.

       Some children covered themselves with textbooks to guard against falling objects as aftershocks continued.

       Television images showed neighbours and rescue workers lifting residents, including a toddler, through windows and onto the street, after doors fused shut in the shaking. All appeared mobile and in shock but without serious injuries.

       Taiwan is regularly jolted by quakes and its population is among the best prepared for them, but authorities said they had expected a relatively mild earthquake and accordingly did not send out alerts.

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       Nine people died in the quake, which struck just before 8am, according to the NFA.

       Authorities said they had lost contact with 50 people in minibuses in Taroko National Park after the quake downed phone networks.

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