Source: NDTV; South China Morning Post; CNA; Taiwan News
Date: 3rd January 2022
Taipei: A strong earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan on Monday evening, the Central Weather Bureau said, with shaking felt in the capital Taipei but no immediate reports of damage.
The weather bureau said the quake measured 6.0 in magnitude and hit at the relatively shallow depth of 19 kilometres (12 miles). The United States Geological Survey (USGS) put the magnitude higher at 6.2.
The epicentre was given in the sea 56 kilometres east of the coastal city of Hualien.
The weather bureau said no immediate reports of damage had come in.
An AFP reporter in Taipei said buildings swayed violently when the tremor struck during the rush hour commute at 5:46 pm (0946 GMT).
“The shaking lasted for a good 20 seconds with the ground moving left and right,” the reporter said.
Taiwan is regularly hit by earthquakes as the island lies near the junction of two tectonic plates.
Some earthquakes of this magnitude can prove deadly, although much depends on where the quake strikes and at what depth.