Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Hits Taiwan

Taipei [Taiwan]: A powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale hit Taiwan late Saturday night, causing tremors in many parts of the island, Focus Taiwan reported. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA), the earthquake occurred at 23:05 local time. According to Focus Taiwan, the epicenter was located in the sea, approximately 32 km east of Yilan County, at a depth of approximately 73 km.

Tremors were felt in many areas, including Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Taoyuan, Tainan, as well as counties such as Hualien, Yilan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Nantou, Changhua, Yunlin, Taitung and Chiayi, as well as the cities of Keelung, Hsinchu and Chiayi. The earthquake registered an intensity level on Taiwan’s seven-level intensity scale in these regions. No injuries or damage were reported following the earthquake.

According to official data, the earthquake registered intensity at level 4 in Yilan County on Taiwan’s seven-level intensity scale. Similar tremors were felt in large parts of eastern, northern and central Taiwan, including Tainan, the Taipei Times reported. Density was slightly lower in the south; It was 3 in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County. In remote areas, milder tremors were reported at intensity level 2 in Lienchiang and Penghu counties and 1 in Kinmen County.

Speaking at a late-night press conference around 11:50 p.m., the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said this was the third earthquake of magnitude 7 or greater to hit Taiwan in recorded history. The previous major quakes were a deadly 7.3-magnitude quake in September 1999 and another 7.2-magnitude tremor in April last year, the Taipei Times reported.

CWA announced that the earthquake was caused by tectonic movement between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate. The earthquake, with a depth of 72.8 kilometers, was classified as a medium depth earthquake. Officials said that since the earthquake originated deep below the surface and at sea, the shaking was felt over a wide area, but it was not expected to cause major damage.

Authorities also warned that aftershocks of magnitude 5.5 to 6.0 could occur the next day and urged citizens to be careful. It is also worth noting that this is the second strong earthquake to hit Taiwan this year.