Taiwan hit by major series of aftershocks following April 3 earthquake
Taiwan has experienced a significant series of aftershocks, with dozens of earthquakes rattling the island, causing buildings to sway. The government confirmed these tremors as aftershocks stemming from the massive quake that struck the region over two weeks ago. The most potent of the recent tremors, measured at magnitudes of 6.1 and 6.0 by the United States Geological Survey and Taipei’s Central Weather Administration respectively, struck around 2:30 am (18:30 GMT).
The seismic activity, centered around Hualien on the east coast, reverberated across large parts of northern, eastern, and western Taiwan, leading to widespread shaking throughout the night. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties. An office worker, Kevin Lin, residing in Taipei, described being awoken by the quake, stating, “I was too scared to move and stayed in bed.”
Subsequently, at approximately 8 am (00:00 GMT), a 5.8-magnitude tremor jolted the capital, coinciding with the morning commute. Hualien, located approximately 150km (93 miles) from Taipei, bore the brunt of a magnitude-7.2 quake on April 3, resulting in severe damage to buildings and triggering landslides, claiming at least 14 lives. Since then, over 1,100 aftershocks have been recorded.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration affirmed that the recent cluster of earthquakes constitutes further aftershocks. Director of the Seismological Centre, Wu Chien-fu, cautioned that while more aftershocks could be expected, they might not be as intense. In response to the ongoing seismic activity, authorities in Hualien announced the closure of schools and offices on Tuesday.
Structures already weakened by the April 3 quake, such as the Full Hotel and the Tong Shuai Building, suffered additional damage. Both buildings, unoccupied at the time, were previously marked for demolition. Despite Taiwan’s susceptibility to powerful earthquakes due to its location near tectonic plate boundaries, the toll of the April 3 event was relatively contained, credited to widespread public awareness campaigns and stringent building standards. With a population of 23 million, Taiwan remains vigilant against seismic risks.
