A 6-magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan

A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan on Wednesday, according to the US Geological Survey, but there have been no reports yet of damage.

The US agency said that the earthquake struck at 17:47 (09:47 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers in Taitung County.

The Taiwan Central Meteorological Administration announced earlier that the intensity of the earthquake reached 6.1 degrees. According to the National Fire Agency, no damage to the island’s transportation networks has been reported so far.

Residents felt the earthquake, especially in areas north of the capital, Taipei, where some buildings shook.

Local television channels showed footage of products falling from supermarket shelves and crashing in Taitung.

Taiwan is frequently exposed to earthquakes due to its location on the edge of two tectonic plates near the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area that the US Geological Survey says is the most seismically active in the world.

The last major earthquake occurred in April 2024, when a deadly 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the island, which officials said was the strongest in 25 years.

The earthquake killed at least 17 people, caused landslides and caused severe damage to buildings in Hualien City.

In 1999, Taiwan was rocked by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake, which was the deadliest natural disaster in the island’s history.