A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan’s east coast on the morning of August 16, 2024, according to the United States Geological Survey. Initially reported as a 6.3-magnitude quake by the island’s Central Weather Administration, the earthquake prompted a mobile phone alert advising people to “keep calm and seek cover nearby.” Although the National Fire Agency reported no damage from this earthquake, it urged residents to remain vigilant following a 5.4-magnitude quake that triggered a government alert the previous day.
Taiwan’s location between tectonic plates makes it prone to frequent seismic activity. The most recent major earthquake occurred in early April, when a 7.4-magnitude tremor resulted in at least 17 fatalities and significant damage around Hualien. This was the most severe earthquake Taiwan had experienced since the deadly 7.6-magnitude quake in 1999, which claimed 2,400 lives and remains the deadliest natural disaster in the island’s history.
