5.9 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Taiwan

Earthquake in Taiwan: A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck southern Taiwan on Wednesday, about 71 kilometers (44.1 miles) south of Hualien City, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor was detected at a depth of 31.1 kilometers (19.3 miles).

“When the earthquake struck, the computer screen and fan shook heavily. It was much stronger than previous quakes. I immediately thought about running outside,” a firefighter in Chenggong told AFP.

Taiwan is regularly struck by earthquakes due to its location near the junction of two tectonic plates along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most active seismic regions. The USGS describes it as the most seismically active zone in the world.

The recent tremor follows a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake in April 2024, which was the strongest in 25 years. 

That disaster left 17 people dead, triggered landslides, and badly damaged buildings around Hualien.

Taiwan’s worst earthquake on record was in 1999, when a 7.6-magnitude quake killed around 2,400 people, marking the deadliest natural disaster in the island’s history.

In a separate incident on Monday, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit central Colombia, causing minor damage. Several zinc-roofed structures collapsed, and sirens went off in Bogota, prompting panic among residents. Authorities are investigating the extent of damage, but no major injuries were reported.