The government warned the public of the possibility of aftershocks after two strong -- and nearly simultaneous -- earthquakes measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale rocked Taiwan early yesterday morning, injuring two people.
According to the Central Weather Bureau's Seismology Center, the first quake, which struck at 3:06am yesterday, with its epicenter 6.2km north of Suao, Ilan County, and was 8.5km underground. One minute later, the second quake occurred, measured at the same magnitude.
As the two quakes nearly overlapped, seismologists initially reported it as a single quake. A smaller temblor, with a magnitude of 4.2, struck seven minutes before the two major earthquakes.
PHOTO: CHIANG CHIH-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
According to the National Fire Agency, two terrified people in Ilan were injured when they fled their homes.
A series of earthquakes followed the major ones early yesterday morning, waking up people around the nation. Residents in Ilan, a northeastern county, as well as northern Taiwan were most affected.
Seismologists at the center said that these earthquakes could be attributed to both the meeting of the Philippine Plate and Eurasian Plate and the expansion of geological strata in the Ryukyu trench.
According to Lu Pei-ling (
"Since the center's database was established in 1970, we have not recorded this kind of phenomenon." Lu said.
By press time, at least 100 aftershocks were reported and seismologists warned of more strong quakes in the next few weeks.
Experts reminded the public that Taiwan, lying near the junction of two tectonic plates, is prone to earthquakes and disaster prevention measures have to be taken into account at all times.
Hongey Chen (陳宏宇), a professor of geology at National Taiwan University (NTU), said during a TV interview that people in residential areas felt the shaking strongly because of the shallow epicenters located under the island.
Chen said that earthquakes occurred near Nieutou Fault, which is located on the border between Taipei and Ilan.
"The fault has not caused any earthquakes. But we have to observe it closely if see if any new fault has been created by the crush of the tectonic plates," Chen said.
Taiwan's most devastating earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, struck on Sept. 21 1999, killing more than 2,400 people.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old