Strong Quake and Aftershocks Rattle Eastern Taiwan
Mainshock near Hualien City was the area’s strongest earthquake in 25 years
Magnitude 7.4 and magnitude 6.4 earthquakes struck near Hualien City, Taiwan on April 3, 2024.
EVENT SUMMARY PAGE
On April 3 at 7:58 AM local time, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred 11 miles (18 kilometers) from Hualien City on the eastern coast of Taiwan. It was followed by a sequence of strong aftershocks, including a magnitude 6.4 aftershock 13 minutes after the mainshock.
Tragically, at the time of writing, news outlets are reporting that at least 9 people have died and nearly a thousand have been injured. Dozens of people are still missing and scores of buildings have been damaged.
“The hazard is not over in Taiwan,” said geophysicist Kate Allstadt, “Rain is forecasted for Friday, which along with ongoing aftershocks, could trigger additional landslides along the already weakened slopes. If the expected rainfall is intense, it could form rapidly moving debris flows in hillslope channels that travel long distances and threaten communities downstream.”
Earthquakes of magnitude 7 or larger are not unusual in eastern Taiwan, where several faults and a plate boundary can produce these damaging tremors. The quake occurred as the result of reverse faulting near the boundary between the Eurasia and Philippine Sea plates and was likely associated with faulting within the Eurasia plate, where the Philippine Sea plate is moving northwest and subducting below the Eurasian plate.
Shortly after the quake, Taiwanese officials issued a tsunami warning for the island’s coasts, and the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning and evacuation for islands east and northeast of Taiwan. Although the NOAA Tsunami Warning System issued a Tsunami Threat bulletin for regions in the Pacific Ocean near Taiwan, there was no reported threat to US coastlines or Pacific territories.
The USGS Ground Failure products indicate a broad area was exposed to landsliding and liquefaction. When shaken by earthquakes, low-lying, wet, loose ground can lose its strength and start to act more like a liquid. Buildings, roads, railways, and underground structures like pipelines, can all be damaged by liquefaction. The USGS runs models to estimate the likelihood and extent of this process following major earthquakes worldwide.
Additionally, yesterday’s large quake and its subsequent aftershocks likely triggered extensive landslides, with many videos posted online showing landslides kicking up dust across swathes of the mountainous eastern coastline. Fortunately, not many people live in the rugged areas where the most intense landslide activity likely occurred. However, there are popular hiking trails in the area and news reports have confirmed that the earthquake and landslides blocked trails, damaged roads, and trapped individuals.
USGS Ground Failure products
EXPECTED AFTERSHOCKS
Aftershocks are likely to continue for many weeks following this earthquake, with decreasing frequency over time. Aftershocks reported by the USGS National Earthquake Information Center will be posted on https://earthquake.usgs.gov/.
The USGS will continue to assess potential impacts as more data becomes available.
Reporters with questions can contact: earthquakemedia@usgs.gov
In the last 50 years, 6 other earthquakes of this magnitude or greater occurred within 155 miles, or 250 kilometers, of the epicenter. Nearly 25 years ago, in September 1999: a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that was centered 59 km west of this week’s quake, it was known as the Chi-Chi earthquake and resulted in at least 2,297 fatalities. The cost of the damage was estimated at $14 billion. In 2018, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake caused 17 fatalities and damaged buildings in Hualien. The largest recorded quake occurred in 1920 when a magnitude 8.2 earthquake occurred immediately east of this week’s earthquake.
MORE INFORMATION
USGS recent earthquakes
Tsunami Information
Taiwan Central Weather Administration
Japan Meteorological Agency
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