On Monday, Shoufeng Township in Taiwan’s Hualien County encountered an unusual sequence of seismic activity, with 5 earthquakes occurring within a span of just nine minutes. This information was relayed by Central News Agency Focus Taiwan. Earlier today, the capital of Taiwan experienced a significant earthquake. Described as “strong” by the Central Weather Administration, this earthquake, measuring magnitude 5.5, originated in eastern Hualien. These events indicate a notable level of seismic activity in the region.
On April 3, the region experienced a devastating magnitude-7.4 earthquake, which caused landslides in the mountainous area, resulting in road closures, and significant damage to buildings in Hualien city. The quake claimed the lives of at least 17 individuals, with the most recent victim found on April 13 in a quarry.
The earthquake on Monday struck Taiwan around 5:08 pm local time (0908 GMT) and was perceptible in the capital, Taipei. According to the US Geological Survey, it measured 5.3 on the Richter scale, with a depth of 8.9 kilometres.
An AFP staff member described the recent earthquake as one of the strongest felt since the significant tremor earlier in the month.
Hualien’s fire department quickly responded to the earthquake, dispatching teams to assess any potential damage. They assured the public through a brief message on their official social media platform that they would continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates promptly.
Taiwan experiences frequent seismic activity due to its location at the convergence of two tectonic plates. The earthquake on April 3 was followed by numerous aftershocks, resulting in rockfalls in the vicinity of Hualien. It was the most severe earthquake in Taiwan since 1999 when a magnitude-7.6 quake struck the island, claiming the lives of 2,400 people in the deadliest natural disaster in its history.
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