Early on Tuesday, a series of earthquakes rattled Taiwan, with the strongest measuring 6.1 magnitude, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties resulting from these seismic events.
This recent cluster of earthquakes follows a significant magnitude 7.4 quake that struck the island earlier this month, resulting in the tragic loss of 13 lives and injuring over 1,000 individuals. The epicenter of this previous earthquake was located along the coast of the rural and mountainous Hualien County. This event marked the most powerful earthquake to hit Taiwan in the past 25 years and was followed by numerous aftershocks.
According to the USGS, the 6.1 magnitude quake that occurred on Tuesday had its epicenter situated 28 kilometers (17.5 miles) south of Hualien city, at a depth of 10.7 kilometers. Additionally, several other earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.5 to magnitude 6 were recorded in close proximity to Hualien.
Despite Taiwan's susceptibility to powerful earthquakes, the impact on the island's 23 million residents has been relatively limited, thanks to the country's robust earthquake preparedness measures. Taiwan boasts stringent construction standards and conducts widespread public education campaigns to raise awareness about earthquake safety.
It is worth noting that in 1999, a devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Taiwan claimed the lives of 2,400 individuals, underscoring the importance of continued vigilance and preparedness in the face of seismic activity.
