5.6 Magnitude Earthquake in Eastern Sea Area Felt Across Taiwan; Beware of Aftershocks Above Magnitude 4 for 1 Week
A 5.6 magnitude earthquake occurred in Taiwan's eastern sea area, felt almost island-wide. The CWA Seismology Center warns of potential aftershocks of magnitude 4 to 5 within the next week, urging caution, especially in mountainous areas due to possible loose rocks.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 17:14
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 17:32 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 13, 2026 at 03:22 (9h 50m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Taipei, May 12, Central News Agency reporter Chang Hsiung-Feng) A magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred this afternoon in the eastern sea area of Taiwan, felt almost island-wide. The Central Weather Administration's Seismology Center stated that this earthquake was caused by plate collision, and aftershocks of magnitude 4 to 5 should still be watched out for within the next week.
According to the latest information from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Central Weather Administration, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred at 2:53 PM in the eastern sea area of Taiwan, 66.8 kilometers northeast of Taitung County Government, with a depth of 22.9 kilometers. The maximum intensity was magnitude 4 in Taitung County and Hualien County.
Chen Da-Yi, section chief of the CWA Seismology Center, stated in a press conference that due to the shallow depth of this earthquake, it was felt almost island-wide; people near the epicenter would have felt a significant shake.
Chen Da-Yi pointed out that the cause of this earthquake was the collision between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Because the Luzon arc moves northwestward towards the Eurasian Continental Plate by 7 centimeters each year, earthquakes occur in this boundary zone. This type of earthquake is a collision-type earthquake, so its depth is generally not deep.
For this earthquake, a national alert was issued in Hualien and Taitung. People in northern Hualien or southern Taitung might have received the alert before feeling the tremor; as for those near the epicenter, the alert and shaking might have arrived simultaneously.
Historical data shows that this area is prone to earthquakes. Within a 30-kilometer radius of this epicenter, since 1980, there have been 24 earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or above, and today marks the 25th. This earthquake is also an independent event, reminding that there may be aftershocks of magnitude 4 to 5 within the next week. Especially in mountainous areas, the soil might be loose, and care should be taken to avoid falling rocks. (Editor: Wu Su-Jou) 1150512
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(Taipei, May 12, Central News Agency reporter Chang Hsiung-Feng) A magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred this afternoon in the eastern sea area of Taiwan, felt almost island-wide. The Central Weather Administration's Seismology Center stated that this earthquake was caused by plate collision, and aftershocks of magnitude 4 to 5 should still be watched out for within the next week.
According to the latest information from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Central Weather Administration, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred at 2:53 PM in the eastern sea area of Taiwan, 66.8 kilometers northeast of Taitung County Government, with a depth of 22.9 kilometers. The maximum intensity was magnitude 4 in Taitung County and Hualien County.
Chen Da-Yi, section chief of the CWA Seismology Center, stated in a press conference that due to the shallow depth of this earthquake, it was felt almost island-wide; people near the epicenter would have felt a significant shake.
Chen Da-Yi pointed out that the cause of this earthquake was the collision between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Because the Luzon arc moves northwestward towards the Eurasian Continental Plate by 7 centimeters each year, earthquakes occur in this boundary zone. This type of earthquake is a collision-type earthquake, so its depth is generally not deep.
For this earthquake, a national alert was issued in Hualien and Taitung. People in northern Hualien or southern Taitung might have received the alert before feeling the tremor; as for those near the epicenter, the alert and shaking might have arrived simultaneously.
Historical data shows that this area is prone to earthquakes. Within a 30-kilometer radius of this epicenter, since 1980, there have been 24 earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or above, and today marks the 25th. This earthquake is also an independent event, reminding that there may be aftershocks of magnitude 4 to 5 within the next week. Especially in mountainous areas, the soil might be loose, and care should be taken to avoid falling rocks. (Editor: Wu Su-Jou) 1150512
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The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.