Taiwan’s east coast felt the impact of this year’s strongest earthquake on Wednesday evening.
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A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Hualien County's Fuli Township just after 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
The earthquake had unexpected consequences for the Taipei Metro system, causing disruptions on both Banqiao and Wenhu Lines. The issue on the Wenhu Line was attributed to a refrigerant leak, but it's still uncertain whether these problems were directly linked to the earthquake.
As buildings shook vigorously, fish swayed back and forth in their tanks. One woman recalls hearing a sound followed by a sudden shaking. The quake also caused cracks to appear at the connection point of a bridge, affecting the passage of large vehicles.
National Taiwan University Geoscience Professor Chen Wen-shan (陳文山) explained where the earthquake occurred, pointing out the position and the associated faultlines.
This earthquake is the most significant seismic event witnessed this year. The second-largest quake occurred near the coast of Hualien in February registering a magnitude of 5.6. In September 2022, the Taitung region experienced a 6.8 magnitude quake, the largest in the last three decades. Chen says earthquakes in the area can often reach a magnitude of more than 6.0.
For the moment, no major aftershocks have been reported, but the Central Weather Administration advises exercising caution over the next three days, as there remains a potential for aftershocks with a magnitude as high as 5.5.