A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck about 30km off Taiwan’s northeastern coastal city of Yilan late on Saturday (Dec 27), the island’s weather administration said.
The quake shook buildings in the capital Taipei and had a depth of 73km, it added.
Damage assessment was underway and no tsunami alert was issued after the quake, the National Fire Agency said. There have been no immediate reports of major damage so far, the Taipei city government said.
The intensity of the quake was measured at four on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale in areas including Taipei City, Hualien county and Yilan county.
Tremors could also be felt as far away as Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Observatory received over 100 reports from people who felt the tremor, which lasted a few seconds.
The earthquake hit Taiwan days after a 6.1 magnitude quake struck the southeastern part of the island on Wednesday, although there were no reports of damage.
This is the biggest earthquake to hit the island since April 2024, when a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Hualien county, killing 19 people and injuring more than 1,000 others.
Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes.
Source: CNA
