TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan experienced a series of significant earthquakes overnight and into Tuesday, causing buildings to sway and prompting concerns about aftershocks following a major deadly quake that struck the island more than two weeks ago.
The strongest earthquakes, measured at magnitude 6.1 and 6.0 by the US Geological Survey and slightly higher by Taipei’s Central Weather Administration, occurred around 2:30 am and were followed by subsequent tremors. The relentless shaking left residents across the island unsettled, with reports of swaying structures and rattling homes in the capital Taipei, located approximately 150 kilometers (90 miles) north of the epicenter in Hualien.
“I was too scared to move and stayed in bed,” recounted Kevin Lin, 53, an office worker in Taipei, describing his experience during the intense quakes.
The seismic activity began on Monday evening and continued into Tuesday morning, with over 200 recorded quakes originating from Hualien on Taiwan’s central east coast. This region was also the epicenter of a magnitude-7.4 quake that struck on April 3, deemed the strongest in 25 years by Taiwan authorities, resulting in landslides and significant structural damage.
In Hualien, a previously damaged hotel building was observed tilting at an angle overnight, prompting evacuation efforts by firefighters concerned for residents’ safety. Due to persistent aftershocks, the Hualien County government stated on Tuesday that schools and offices would be closed.
Taiwan is susceptible to frequent earthquakes due to its geographical location at the convergence of tectonic plates. The recent seismic swarm, characterized by shifting epicenters and escalating magnitudes, has raised concerns among seismologists about potential future large earthquakes.
While Taiwan has experienced devastating earthquakes in the past, such as the 1999 magnitude-7.6 quake that claimed thousands of lives, stricter building regulations and heightened disaster preparedness have mitigated the impact of recent seismic events.
For residents like Kevin Lin in Taipei, the uncertainty of building stability amid ongoing seismic activity underscores the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in earthquake-prone regions. Despite public education efforts, the unpredictability of large earthquakes remains a persistent concern for Taiwanese residents.
