Taiwan Central Weather Administration issues alert for 6.1 magnitude earthquake in Hualien

The Taiwan Central Weather Administration (CWA) has issued an alert following a 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck the Hualien region at approximately 2:21 AM on 27 April.

The epicenter was located 23.0 kilometers northeast of the Hualien County government offices, near the Hualien County coast, at a depth of 24.9 km.

Public announcements have been made urging residents who experienced significant shaking to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in anticipation of potential aftershocks.

The earthquake triggered the Public Warning System (PWS), with alerts issued for multiple areas including Yilan County, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Changhua County, Hualien County, Hsinchu City, Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Taichung City.

This quake was preceded by three smaller quakes, ranging from magnitudes of 3.1 to 3.3, earlier in the night.

An additional aftershock of magnitude 4.0 occurred at 2:32 AM, 22.5 kilometers northeast of the Hualien County government, at a depth of 32 km.

These events follow another tremor on the evening of 26 April, which registered a magnitude of 3.6. Earlier, on 23 April, Hualien experienced two significant earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.0 and 6.3.

This ongoing seismic activity has contributed to Taiwan’s geographical shift away from the mainland, a topic that has sparked significant discussion on social media.

Two years ago, the CWA released a comparative image showing Taiwan’s movement over nine years, which intensified public concern.

Taiwan has seen frequent seismic activities recently, with Hualien suffering severe damage including building collapses, road damage, and casualties. Experts have pointed to the Ryukyu Trench earthquake zone, which includes the Milun Fault.

Dr Ma Kuo-feng, Chief Scientist at the Taiwan Earthquake Science Center, estimates an 88% chance of a disruptive event along this fault line, potentially reaching or exceeding a magnitude of 8.

The administration continues to urge residents to stay informed through official updates and adhere to safety protocols during seismic events to minimize risks and ensure their safety.