A strong 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan’s northeastern coast late Saturday, marking the island’s second major quake in just one week.
Taiwan was hit by its second major earthquake in just a week late on Saturday night. The tremor, measured at 7.0 magnitude, struck off the northeastern coast near Yilan around 11:05 pm local time. It reached a depth of about 73 km (45 miles) and was felt across northern and eastern parts of the island, including Taipei.
Buildings shook, some ceilings cracked, and supermarket shelves toppled, while trains and metro lines were temporarily slowed for safety checks. So far, there are no confirmed major casualties, but authorities have warned people to stay alert as aftershocks could still occur.
Some facilities of the world’s largest chipmaker, TSMC, were evacuated as a precaution, though the company said operations are running normally. Taiwan’s location along the junction of two tectonic plates makes it especially prone to earthquakes, and this tremor follows a 6.6 magnitude quake earlier this week. Past quakes, like the 7.3 magnitude disaster in 1999, show the island’s vulnerability to these events.
Officials are continuing to check infrastructure and monitor aftershocks, urging residents to follow safety protocols and check on family and neighbors.
Sources: DW, USA Today, NDTV
