Magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes Taiwan with minimal reported damage

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Taiwan’s northeastern coastal city on Saturday, according to the island’s weather administration. The quake had a depth of 73km and was felt across Taiwan, causing minor damage to buildings in the capital Taipei. The USGS reported the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.6.

Reports indicated that some homes in Yilan lost power for brief periods, with over 3,000 homes affected by the Taiwan Power Company. Major chipmaker TSMC also experienced a small number of facilities meeting evacuation thresholds due to the quake, but staff had since returned to work.

Taiwan’s weather administration stated that damage from the earthquake was expected to be limited due to its depth and offshore location. The administration advised people to remain alert for aftershocks with magnitudes between 5.5-6.0 in the coming day.

Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te issued a social media post stating that authorities had control of the situation, while urging the population to be vigilant for aftershocks. The island is prone to earthquakes due to its location near the junction of two tectonic plates.

In recent years, Taiwan has experienced significant earthquake-related incidents. In April 2024, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake resulted in 17 fatalities and severe damage in Hualien city. A 2016 quake in southern Taiwan killed over 100 people, while a 1999 quake caused more than 2,000 deaths.

Source: Al Jazeera