TAIPEI, Dec 24: A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Taiwan’s southeastern coast on Wednesday evening, shaking buildings across the island including the capital Taipei, though no immediate damage was reported.
The tremor hit Taitung County at 5:47 PM local time (09:47 UTC) at a depth of 11.9 kilometers, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration. The US Geological Survey initially reported the quake at magnitude 6.0, while Taiwan’s weather agency measured it at 6.1.
Buildings in Taipei, located in northern Taiwan, experienced noticeable shaking despite being hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter. The National Fire Agency confirmed no immediate reports of damage or impacts on transportation systems across the island.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest chipmaker, stated the earthquake did not reach the threshold level requiring evacuation of its factories across Taiwan. This indicates minimal disruption to the island’s critical semiconductor production facilities.
Taiwan sits near the junction of two tectonic plates, making it highly prone to seismic activity. The island regularly experiences earthquakes, with southeastern coastal areas like Taitung County being particularly vulnerable to tremors.
