Multiple earthquakes strike Taiwan, strongest measures 6.3 magnitude
PTC News Desk: A series of earthquakes, including one registering a magnitude of 6.3, struck Taiwan's eastern county of Hualien late Monday and early Tuesday, causing buildings to sway in the capital, Taipei. The tremors, with depths as shallow as 5.5 km (3.4 miles), triggered aftershocks reminiscent of the devastating 7.2 magnitude quake on April 3, which claimed at least 14 lives.
Despite the intensity of the recent seismic activity, Hualien, primarily rural and sparsely populated, experienced only minor damage, and fortunately, there were no reported casualties. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), a major chipmaker with facilities on the island's western coast, confirmed that its operations remained unaffected, with no disruption to its production lines or safety protocols.
The Central Weather Administration attributed the flurry of earthquakes to aftershocks stemming from the earlier quake in April, estimating around 180 seismic events since Monday afternoon. Director of the Seismological Centre, Wu Chien-fu, cautioned that while further aftershocks were anticipated, they might not reach the same magnitude.
Amidst concerns of continued seismic activity compounded by heavy rainfall forecasted for the week, authorities advised residents of Hualien to remain vigilant and prepared for potential disruptions. The Hualien fire department reported additional damage to two buildings already compromised by the earlier quake, though no new casualties were reported.
Despite the geological vulnerabilities of Taiwan, investors displayed resilience, with TSMC's shares on the Taipei stock exchange showing a 1.75% increase on Tuesday morning. However, in Hualien county, where mountainous terrain increased the risk of landslides and rockfalls, road closures were reported, prompting the government to suspend work and school activities for the day.
Taiwan's geographical location near the convergence of tectonic plates renders it susceptible to earthquakes, with historical precedents including the 2016 quake in southern Taiwan, which claimed over 100 lives, and the catastrophic 1999 quake with a magnitude of 7.3, resulting in more than 2,000 fatalities.
- With inputs from agencies
