A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. AFP reporters also reported buildings shaking in the capital Taipei.
The USGS said the quake struck at a depth of about 31 kilometres on the east coast, 71 kilometres south of Hualien City. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, the Taitung Fire Department told AFP.
“The computer screen and fans were shaking violently during the earthquake. It was much stronger than previous earthquakes. I immediately thought about running outside,” said a firefighter in the east coast city of Chenggong.
Taiwan is prone to earthquakes because it lies on the boundary of two tectonic plates and is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which the USGS says is the world’s most earthquake-prone region.
Previously, a deadly 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the island in April 2024. According to authorities, that quake was the strongest in 25 years. It killed at least 17 people, caused landslides, and severely damaged many buildings in the Hualien area.