At least 27 injured after M6.4 earthquake hits Taiwan, equivalent to ‘two atomic bombs’
At least 27 people were injured after an M6.4 earthquake hit Chiayi County, Taiwan, on January 20, 2025. The quake damaged infrastructure, triggered landslides, and was felt as far as Taipei.
Wall collapsed due to earthquake in Taiwan on January 20, 2025. Image credit: Sneha Mordani
- The M6.4 earthquake in Taiwan’s Chiayi County injured at least 27 people and caused damage to infrastructure.
- The tremors were felt across multiple cities, including Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Taipei.
- Additional aftershocks with magnitudes of 5 or higher are possible over the next three days.
A strong M6.4 earthquake struck Taiwan’s Chiayi County at 16:17 UTC (00:17 local time on January 21) on January 20, injuring at least 27 people and causing structural damage, including the collapse of a house in Tainan’s Nanxi district and damage to the Zhuwei bridge.
The energy released by the earthquake was equivalent to two atomic bombs, according to Kuo Kai-wen, former director of the Central Weather Administration’s (CWA) seismology center.
Tremors were felt as far as Taipei, causing several high-rise buildings to sway, while neighboring cities such as Tainan and Kaohsiung also experienced the quake’s effects.
No fatalities have been reported, but several structures were damaged, and some homes partially collapsed.
The Chiayi County government suspended work and classes in Dapu township, the area closest to the epicenter. Roads were severely damaged, rendering travel impossible, while water and electricity supplies were disrupted.
In Xixing village, 50 residents were trapped after landslides caused by the quake blocked road access. Six homes were damaged in Tainan’s Nanshi district, where rescuers pulled 11 residents to safety, including a one-month-old baby. Three people sustained minor injuries and were hospitalized, according to the fire department.
Over 50 aftershocks were recorded in Chiayi, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. Seismologists warned of potential aftershocks of magnitude 5 or higher in the next three days as seismic energy continues to be released.
The quake caused a fire at a printing factory in Chiayi, but it was extinguished without any reported injuries.
A M7.4 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan in April 2024, killing 13 people and injuring more than 1 000. Similarly, a 2016 earthquake in southern Taiwan claimed over 100 lives.
Taiwan lies on the boundary of two tectonic plates and experiences frequent earthquakes. The 1906 Meishan earthquake near Chiayi killed over 1 200 people, while the 1999 Jiji earthquake claimed more than 2 000 lives.
Wu Chien-fu, director of the CWA’s seismological center, explained that earthquakes in southwestern Taiwan are typically caused by compression of the eastern tectonic plate. This stress transfers westward, resulting in shallow epicenters with intensely felt tremors.
Wu clarified that the latest earthquake was unrelated to the Meishan Fault, which caused the devastating 1906 disaster. He stated that the epicenter of the Tuesday tremors was 50 km (31 miles) away.
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References:
1 Taiwan braces for more shocks after 6.4-magnitude earthquake terrifies residents – SCMP – January 21, 2024
2 Strong earthquake in Taiwan injures 27 and causes scattered damage – AP – January 21, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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