Taiwan says aftershocks up to magnitude 7.0 could occur for 4 days --- TAIWAN NEWS
Authorities say Wednesday's quake largest since 1999 Nantou earthquake
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) said that aftershocks between magnitude 6.5 and 7 may occur over the next four days following the magnitude 7.2 quake that struck Hualien County on Wednesday (April 3).
The Wednesday morning earthquake was likely the main shock, though it is possible aftershocks up to magnitude 7 on the Richter scale will occur over the next three to four days, CWA’s Wu Chien-fu (吳健富) said at a press conference, per CNA.
Wu said the quake was the result of movement in the Philippine Sea Plate and that the epicenter was extremely shallow and close to land. He said it was likely felt strongly in Taipei because of the “basin effect,” which occurs when earthquake reverberations become trapped in soft ground.
Wednesday morning's quake was the largest since the 1999 Jiji earthquake (921) in Nantou County, Wu said. Over 2,400 people were killed and over 11,300 injured in the 921 quake.
Wu said that some in Taiwan did not receive a nationwide alert following the earthquake and that the reason is under investigation.
Comments