TAIPEI: An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale struck Taiwan on Wednesday morning, sending tremors across parts of the capital, Taipei. The brief shaking prompted residents to rush out of their homes in panic.
According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the quake’s epicentre was located 21 kilometres southeast of Yilan City, off the northeastern coast, at a depth of 69 kilometres beneath the earth’s surface. No damage or injuries were reported as a result of the tremor.
This marks another in a recent series of seismic events in the region. Earthquakes were also recorded earlier this month on April 3 and 4. Taiwan is located in a seismically active zone and experiences frequent earthquakes.
One of the deadliest quakes in the country’s history occurred in 1999, when a powerful tremor killed around 2,415 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings. Since then, the government has invested heavily in public awareness and preparedness for such natural disasters.
In a related regional context, a devastating earthquake struck Thailand and Myanmar on March 28, leaving 3,600 people dead, 5,017 injured, and 160 missing. The disaster caused widespread disruption to electricity and communication networks, and also damaged infrastructure including roads and bridges.
