Taiwan was struck by a magnitude-5.0 earthquake on Wednesday in the northeastern region, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor caused buildings to shake in Taipei, the capital city.
The USGS reported that the earthquake’s epicenter was located in Yilan County, near Taipei, at a depth of approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles).
Fire authorities in Yilan informed AFP that there were no immediate reports of injuries or damages. “I felt the building shaking briefly when the quake hit,” stated an official from the Yilan Fire Bureau.
The National Fire Agency confirmed that there were no reports of damage from anywhere on the island.
While train services, including the high-speed rail, remained unaffected, Taipei’s underground metro temporarily reduced train speeds as a precautionary measure.
Taiwan is prone to frequent earthquakes due to its position along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone, where two tectonic plates meet.
In April 2024, Taiwan experienced a major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4, which officials described as the strongest in 25 years. This earthquake resulted in at least 17 fatalities, triggering landslides and causing severe damage to buildings, especially around Hualien.
The April 2024 quake was the most significant since a 7.6-magnitude tremor in 1999, which resulted in approximately 2,400 deaths and remains the deadliest natural disaster in Taiwan’s history.
Since the devastating 1999 earthquake, Taiwan has enhanced its building codes, incorporating quake-resistant construction methods, such as steel bars that allow buildings to sway more easily during ground movement.
Taiwan is also known for its advanced early warning system, which leverages cutting-edge technology to alert the public to potentially dangerous ground shaking within seconds. The system utilizes smartphones and high-speed data connectivity, even in remote areas of the island, to disseminate warnings rapidly.
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