A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked Taiwan today, causing significant damage and triggering blackouts across the region. The quake’s epicenter was located approximately 18 kilometers south of Hualien City, a bustling metropolis on the island’s east coast. The tremor was so strong that it was felt across the country, with buildings in Hualien city toppling and train services suspended nationwide.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the quake at a depth of about 22 miles, while Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration gave it a magnitude of 7.2. This discrepancy in measurements is not uncommon in seismology, as different agencies use various methods and equipment to assess the magnitude and depth of earthquakes.
The earthquake’s impact was not limited to Taiwan. It triggered a tsunami in Japan’s Yonaguni Island4, prompting tsunami warnings in Japan and the Philippines. Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued warnings for Okinawa Islands, Miyakojima, and the Yaemama area, with wave heights up to about 10 feet.
This earthquake is the strongest to impact Taiwan in 25 years, a sobering reminder of the island’s vulnerability to seismic activity. The last major quake, known as the Jiji earthquake, struck the island in 1999.
How prepared are we for such seismic events? And what can be done to mitigate the damage caused by future earthquakes? We invite you to share your thoughts on this pressing issue.
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