Taiwan was struck by a strong, magnitude 7.0 earthquake late Wednesday, rattling the capital city of Taipei and prompting a swift assessment of potential damage across the island nation. The quake, which occurred at 11:05 p.m.local time, is the largest to hit taiwan in over two years and follows a magnitude 6.0 tremor just days prior on December 21st. Situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Taiwan regularly experiences seismic activity, yet remains especially vulnerable given its dense population and mountainous terrain.
A strong earthquake rattled Taiwan late Wednesday, with tremors felt in the capital, Taipei. The quake, which struck at 11:05 p.m. local time, registered a magnitude of 6.6 according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), while Taiwanese authorities measured it at 7.0.
The island nation is situated in a seismically active zone and frequently experiences earthquakes. This latest event comes just days after a magnitude 6.0 quake struck on December 21, injuring 27 people and causing damage to buildings.
The earthquake’s epicenter was located 31 kilometers (19 miles) east-southeast of Yilan, at a depth of 73 kilometers (45 miles), officials said. The tremors were strong enough to be rated a level 4 on Taiwan’s intensity scale in Taipei.
CNN’s Will Ripley, reporting from Taipei, described the shaking as intense and lasting nearly a minute, noting it was one of the strongest tremors felt in the city since the devastating 1999 earthquake.
Authorities in Taipei City reported no immediate reports of significant damage. However, Taiwan Power Company stated that over 3,000 homes in Yilan County experienced brief power outages.
As of Thursday morning, there have been no reports of casualties or major structural damage. Officials attributed this to the earthquake’s offshore epicenter, its depth, and Taiwan’s stringent building codes. Authorities are monitoring for potential aftershocks, but have stated there is no tsunami risk.
Taiwan’s location near the convergence of two tectonic plates makes it particularly vulnerable to seismic activity. A 2016 earthquake in southern Taiwan claimed more than 100 lives, and a magnitude 7.3 quake in 1999 resulted in over 2,000 fatalities.
