Taipei: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan late yesterday, shaking buildings and causing goods to fall from shelves, but there were no reports of serious damage or injuries. CCTV footage from inside a supermarket captured the moment the earthquake struck Taitung County, on Taiwan’s southeastern coast, yesterday evening local time. The footage shows goods falling from shelves as they violently shook. The tremors were felt as far away as Taipei, where tall buildings swayed for several seconds.
According to Thai News Agency, Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau reported the earthquake measured 6.1 on the Richter scale, or level 4 out of 7 on the Taiwan Richter scale. The epicenter was 11.9 kilometers deep. Warnings were issued for several areas, including Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Tainan. So far, no major damage or injuries have been reported. Meanwhile, TSMC, a major Taiwanese chip manufacturer, stated that the tremors were not strong enough to warrant the evacuation of workers from its factories across the island.
Taiwan is located near the boundary of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes. Taiwan has experienced several severe earthquakes in the past. In 2016, an earthquake in the south of the island killed more than 100 people, and in 1999, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake resulted in over 2,000 deaths.