A 5.7-magnitude earthquake shakes the east coast of Taiwan without causing damage

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck the eastern coast of Taiwan this Thursday, with no casualties or significant damage reported so far, according to the Central Weather Agency (CWA) of Taiwan.

The earthquake occurred at 20:14 local time (12:14 GMT) in the Pacific Ocean, specifically 24.7 kilometers east of Hualien County, at a depth of 15.1 kilometers.

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The tremor reached its maximum intensity in Hualien and Nantou counties, although it was also felt throughout much of the island. The movement was also felt with some force in Taipei and New Taipei, although without causing relevant incidents, according to the first reports released by local authorities. In April 2024, the aforementioned Hualien County was the scene of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake, the most intense in Taiwan in the last 25 years, with at least 19 deaths, over a thousand injured, extensive structural damage, and a small local tsunami on the east coast. Taiwan sits at the confluence of the Philippine and Eurasian plates, so earthquakes are frequent on the island.