Earthquakes Strike Taiwan's East Coast
More than 80 earthquakes, the strongest measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, struck Taiwan's east coast starting Monday night and continuing into the early hours of Tuesday. The tremors were centered on the largely rural eastern county of Hualien, where a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on April 3rd claimed the lives of at least 14 people.
The latest earthquake swarm caused buildings to shake in the capital city of Taipei, but thankfully, no casualties were reported. However, a hotel in Hualien, already damaged in the April 3rd quake and no longer operational, was observed to be leaning slightly on its side.
Taiwan, situated near the junction of two tectonic plates, is highly susceptible to earthquakes. In 2016, a powerful earthquake in southern Taiwan resulted in the deaths of over 100 people. A devastating 7.3-magnitude earthquake in 1999 claimed the lives of more than 2,000 individuals.