Watch: Maternity Nurses Rush to Protect Newborns During Taiwan Quake

Footage from security cameras inside a hospital in Taiwan captured the moment a group of maternity-ward nurses dropped what they were doing and rushed to protect a group of newborn babies as a major earthquake struck earlier this week.

The CCTV video, widely shared on social media in the aftermath of the 7.4 quake, shows three nurses jump into action seconds after the initial temblor, scrambling to push together several bassinets carrying swaddled infants, in an apparent attempt to protect them from falling debris and breaking glass.

Moments later, a fourth nurse runs into the room to help her colleagues secure the bassinets as the shaking eventually begins to subside.

It was not immediately clear which hospital the footage was taken from.

The earthquake—the strongest to hit Taiwan in 25 years—struck at 7:58 a.m. local time on Tuesday, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey, matching the timecode on the video. The epicenter was located about 11 miles southwest of Hualien City.

At least nine people were killed in the quake, and 1,000 more injured, officials said on Thursday. Despite scenes of destruction captured across the Asian island, some residents told reporters they believed the damage could have been much worse.

Hualien County, home to approximately 300,000 residents, bore the brunt of the quake. Many live in remote coastal or mountain communities, complicating rescue efforts.

"The aftershocks were terrifying," Yu, a 52-year-old woman, told Reuters. "It's non-stop. I do not dare to sleep in the house."

She slept in a tent on a sports ground being used for temporary shelter.

Another woman, Tian Liang-si, told Reuters that her building was "no longer liveable."

"I'm a Hualien native," she said. "I'm not supposed to fear earthquakes. But this is an earthquake that frightened us."

"The hazard is not over in Taiwan," U.S. Geological Survey geologist Kate Allstadt said Wednesday. "Rain is forecasted for Friday, which along with ongoing aftershocks, could trigger additional landslides along the already weakened slopes."

Power outages are affecting more than 91,000 households, but hospitals in Taipei City, despite sustaining damage, continue to operate normally. The Biden administration has said it is monitoring the situation and stands ready to provide assistance if needed.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and Premier Chen Chien-jen visited the national disaster response center Wednesday.

The last quake of a similar magnitude to strike Taiwan—a 7.3 in 1999—killed over 2,000 people. It also injured more than 11,300, and damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of buildings.