A 7-magnitude earthquake shakes Taiwan

Taiwan witnessed a 7-magnitude earthquake yesterday evening, Saturday, which was felt across the entire island, according to the Central Meteorological Administration.

The report stated that the earthquake occurred at 1105 pm local time (1505 GMT) at a depth of 72.8 kilometers, and its epicenter was off the northeastern coast of Taiwan.

Residents received earthquake alerts on their mobile phones immediately after the strong tremor occurred.

The US Geological Survey measured the earthquake’s intensity at 6.6 on the Richter scale, according to the Associated Press (AP).

The quake was felt most severely in Yilan County, where its intensity reached 4 on Taiwan’s 7-level scale. In the capital, Taipei, residents felt the tremor for several seconds.

Local media reported that some ceilings collapsed and shelves in stores fell. Railway companies have also temporarily slowed down some train and high-speed train services as a precaution.

Taiwan announced limited damage as a result of the strong earthquake that shook buildings in the capital on Saturday evening, as basic infrastructure operated normally and no major loss of life was recorded, according to Bloomberg News Agency.

Taiwan is located in a seismically active region on the border of the Eurasia Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate, which makes it vulnerable to earthquakes.