An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of six struck southern Taiwan early Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake hit at 12:17 a.m. local time, with its epicenter 12 kilometers north of Yujing at a preliminary depth of 10 kilometers. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration recorded a magnitude of 6.4.
Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of deaths from the quake, but rescuers are still assessing the extent of the damage caused. Taiwan’s fire department reported that 15 people were sent to the hospital for minor injuries. Among them were six individuals, including a child, who were rescued from a collapsed house in Nanxi District, Tainan city. Additionally, the Zhuwei bridge on a provincial highway was reported to be damaged.
This recent earthquake comes after a magnitude 7.4 quake hit the island’s mountainous eastern coast of Hualien last April, resulting in at least 13 fatalities and over 1,000 injuries. The aftermath of the strongest earthquake in 25 years was marked by hundreds of aftershocks.
Taiwan is situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for its high seismic activity due to the presence of numerous seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean. This geological location makes Taiwan susceptible to earthquakes, as it experiences frequent tectonic movements.
