5.5 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Taiwan’s East Coast

A 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan's eastern coast near Hualien without immediate reports of damage. The quake, with a depth of 23.9 km, shook buildings in Taipei. Taiwan often experiences earthquakes due to its location near tectonic plates. Previous major quakes have caused significant casualties.

A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck just off Taiwan's sparsely populated east coast county of Hualien on Monday, according to the island's weather administration. There were no immediate reports of damage.

The quake, which had a depth of 23.9 km (14.9 miles), was felt in the capital, Taipei, where it shook buildings.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates, making it prone to earthquakes. In April, Hualien experienced its biggest earthquake in at least 25 years, which resulted in nine deaths and over 900 injuries. Additionally, a 2016 quake in southern Taiwan killed more than 100 people, and a 1999 quake with a magnitude of 7.3 resulted in over 2,000 fatalities.

(With inputs from agencies.)