Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake Off Yilan Coast; CWA Warns of Aftershocks Within 3 Days
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred off the coast of Yilan County, Taiwan. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has advised the public to be aware of potential aftershocks of magnitude 4 to 4.5 within the next three days, classifying it as an independent event.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 18:26
- 🔍 Collected: April 25, 2026 at 18:31 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 18:35 (3 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Huang Chiao-wen, Taipei, 25th) A magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred off the coast of Yilan County today at 3:16 PM. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) stated that it is an independent event and advised the public to be aware of potential aftershocks of magnitude 4 to 4.5 within the next three days.
According to the latest information from the CWA, the magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred today at 3:16 PM, with a depth of 69 kilometers. The epicenter was located 15.1 kilometers north-northeast of the Yilan County Government (off the coast of Yilan County). The maximum intensity was 3 in Yilan County, followed by intensity 2 in New Taipei City, Taipei City, Taoyuan City, and Hualien County. Intensity 1 was observed in Keelung City, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Nantou County, and Changhua County.
Wu Chien-fu, director of the CWA's Seismology Center, told the Central News Agency that this earthquake is an independent event. He noted that shallow earthquakes are defined as those between 31 and 70 kilometers deep, and this earthquake was right on the boundary between shallow and intermediate-depth earthquakes (70 to 300 kilometers).
Regarding the cause of the earthquake, CWA technical specialist Gan Chih-wen explained at a press briefing that as the Philippine Sea Plate subducts, it sinks deeper as it moves northward, causing earthquakes in this area.
Gan Chih-wen stated that because this earthquake was relatively far from the surface, people's physical sensation was slightly different from typical earthquakes. The overall shaking sensation was relatively weaker, and because the earthquake was deeper, "the feeling was like it came from deep beneath the feet, a sudden up-and-down shaking, which might have startled people."
Gan Chih-wen pointed out that if one searches for earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or greater within a 30-kilometer radius of the epicenter, the depth distribution can be broadly divided into two groups: one occurring at depths above 20 kilometers and another below 50 kilometers. Today's earthquake occurred at a depth between 60 and 70 kilometers. Although there are other earthquake records in the surrounding area, they are relatively distant on the map.
Gan Chih-wen mentioned that an earthquake that occurred on December 27 last year had its epicenter in a different area, also at a certain distance from today's earthquake.
Wu Chien-fu stated that aftershocks of magnitude 4 to 4.5 within the next three days cannot be ruled out. Because this earthquake's depth is shallow, approaching the intermediate-depth earthquake range, the sensation of aftershocks reaching the surface might be milder than today's. (Editor: Lee Shu-hua) 1150425
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.
(Central News Agency reporter Huang Chiao-wen, Taipei, 25th) A magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred off the coast of Yilan County today at 3:16 PM. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) stated that it is an independent event and advised the public to be aware of potential aftershocks of magnitude 4 to 4.5 within the next three days.
According to the latest information from the CWA, the magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred today at 3:16 PM, with a depth of 69 kilometers. The epicenter was located 15.1 kilometers north-northeast of the Yilan County Government (off the coast of Yilan County). The maximum intensity was 3 in Yilan County, followed by intensity 2 in New Taipei City, Taipei City, Taoyuan City, and Hualien County. Intensity 1 was observed in Keelung City, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Nantou County, and Changhua County.
Wu Chien-fu, director of the CWA's Seismology Center, told the Central News Agency that this earthquake is an independent event. He noted that shallow earthquakes are defined as those between 31 and 70 kilometers deep, and this earthquake was right on the boundary between shallow and intermediate-depth earthquakes (70 to 300 kilometers).
Regarding the cause of the earthquake, CWA technical specialist Gan Chih-wen explained at a press briefing that as the Philippine Sea Plate subducts, it sinks deeper as it moves northward, causing earthquakes in this area.
Gan Chih-wen stated that because this earthquake was relatively far from the surface, people's physical sensation was slightly different from typical earthquakes. The overall shaking sensation was relatively weaker, and because the earthquake was deeper, "the feeling was like it came from deep beneath the feet, a sudden up-and-down shaking, which might have startled people."
Gan Chih-wen pointed out that if one searches for earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or greater within a 30-kilometer radius of the epicenter, the depth distribution can be broadly divided into two groups: one occurring at depths above 20 kilometers and another below 50 kilometers. Today's earthquake occurred at a depth between 60 and 70 kilometers. Although there are other earthquake records in the surrounding area, they are relatively distant on the map.
Gan Chih-wen mentioned that an earthquake that occurred on December 27 last year had its epicenter in a different area, also at a certain distance from today's earthquake.
Wu Chien-fu stated that aftershocks of magnitude 4 to 4.5 within the next three days cannot be ruled out. Because this earthquake's depth is shallow, approaching the intermediate-depth earthquake range, the sensation of aftershocks reaching the surface might be milder than today's. (Editor: Lee Shu-hua) 1150425
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.