Strong and shallow M6.2 earthquake hits near the coast of Taiwan
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau as M6.2 hit near the coast of eastern Taiwan at 04:03 UTC (12:03 LT) on December 15, 2022. The agency is reporting a depth of 5.7 km (3.5 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 8 km (5 miles); USGS M5.9 at a depth of 15.3 km (9.5 miles).
The epicenter was located about 27.7 km (17.2 miles) SE of Hualien City (population 350 468), and 84.2 km (52.3 miles) ESE of Puli (population 86 406), Taiwan.
80 000 people are estimated to have felt strong shaking and 189 000 moderate, according to the USGS PAGER.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are heavy wood frame and reinforced/confined masonry construction.
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.
Regional seismicity
Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google
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