Earthquake Of Magnitude 7 Hits Taiwan, Buildings Shake In Taipei

Taiwan Earthquake: An earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck off Taiwan’s northeastern coast on Saturday, the island’s weather agency said.

According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the epicentre was located about 32 km from Yilan city. The exact coordinates of the epicentre were 24.69°N, 122.08°E, and the focal depth of the earthquake was 72.8 km.

Strong tremor was felt in the capital, Taipei, where buildings swayed following the jolt.

The weather agency attributed the earthquake to an intensity four category, meaning there could be minor damage.

The National Fire Agency said assessments were underway to determine any damage or casualties, news agency Reuters reported, adding that no immediate reports of major destruction were available.

According to the Taiwan Power Company, more than 3,000 homes in Yilan briefly lost power following strong tremors.

This was the second major earthquake to hit the island this week. Earlier on Wednesday, an earthquake of 6.1 magnitude struck Taiwan’s southeastern coastal county of Taitung. That quake even shook buildings in Taipei. The depth of the quake was about 11.9 km. The tremor even knocked items off shelves at a supermarket in the southeastern county.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes. In April 2024, Taiwan was shaken by a major earthquake of magnitude 7.4, which killed at least 17 people. A quake in southern Taiwan in 2016 claimed more than 100 lives, while a more powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake in 1999 killed over 2,000 people.

(With inputs from agencies)