Shallow M5.4 AFTERSHOCK struck on Monday Afternoon 0mi from Taiwan.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 6th, 2024. Last updated May 19th, 2024.

In the late afternoon of Monday May 6th, 2024, a shallow and significant MAG-5.4 aftershock hit 0 miles from Taiwan. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 24 million people. Japan is also near its epicenter.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake struck 0 miles (1 km) from Taiwan The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 29 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	May 6, 2024 17:52 (Taipei Time) - May 6, 2024 09:52 Universal Time.
Location:	28 km south of Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan. Coordinates 23°43'53"N 121°33'3"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.4 Detected by 26 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.061 .
Depth:	29 km (18 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VI Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 24 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 24 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is VI, which corresponds with strong shaking and probably light damage. Roughly 7,390 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 15 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Taiwan , around 24 million people, with impact levels up to VI (strong shaking, probably light damage). In China and Japan, a smaller number of people were exposed.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
20,150	II	Very weak	None
15,190,000	III	Weak	Probably none
8,225,000	IV	Light	Likely none
255,900	V	Moderate	Very light
7,390	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. Taiwan and Japan are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.

Hualien City in Hualien County, Taiwan is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 28 kilometer (17 mi) south of Hualien City. The intensity of shaking and damage in Hualien City is estimated to be around level V on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (moderate shaking, very light damage).

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Taipei is located 146 km to the north and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Hualien City is located 28 km to the north and experienced an intensity of V (moderate shaking, very light damage). Taichung is located 99 km to the west-northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
28 km (17 mi) N from epicenter	Hualien City Hualien County, Taiwan.	V Moderate
65 km (40 mi) WNW from epicenter	Puli Nantou County, Taiwan.	IV Light
81 km (50 mi) W from epicenter	Lugu Nantou County, Taiwan.	IV Light
92 km (57 mi) WNW from epicenter	Zhongxing New Village Nantou County, Taiwan.	IV Light
93 km (58 mi) WNW from epicenter	Nantou Nantou County, Taiwan.	IV Light
99 km (62 mi) WNW from epicenter	Taichung Taichung City, Taiwan.	IV Light
102 km (63 mi) WNW from epicenter	Yuanlin Changhua County, Taiwan.	IV Light
103 km (64 mi) W from epicenter	Douliu Yunlin County, Taiwan.	IV Light
116 km (72 mi) N from epicenter	Yilan Yilan County, Taiwan.	IV Light
130 km (81 mi) WSW from epicenter	Yujing Tainan City, Taiwan.	III Weak
131 km (81 mi) NNW from epicenter	Daxi Taoyuan City , Taiwan.	III Weak
133 km (83 mi) NNW from epicenter	Hsinchu Hsinchu County, Taiwan.	III Weak
143 km (89 mi) N from epicenter	Banqiao New Taipei City, Taiwan.	III Weak
143 km (89 mi) N from epicenter	Taoyuan City Taoyuan City , Taiwan.	III Weak
146 km (91 mi) N from epicenter	Taipei Taipei City, Taiwan.	III Weak
157 km (98 mi) N from epicenter	Keelung Keelung, Taiwan.	III Weak
159 km (99 mi) WSW from epicenter	Tainan Tainan City, Taiwan.	III Weak
177 km (110 mi) SW from epicenter	Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, Taiwan.	III Weak
180 km (112 mi) SW from epicenter	Donggang Pingtung County, Taiwan.	III Weak
201 km (125 mi) W from epicenter	Magong Penghu County , Taiwan.
209 km (130 mi) SSW from epicenter	Hengchun Pingtung County, Taiwan.	III Weak
273 km (170 mi) ENE from epicenter	Ishigaki Okinawa, Japan.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is VI.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 29 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 29 people have reported shaking in 18 places, all within Taiwan.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Yungho, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 4 people.
Taichung, Taichung Shih, Taiwan: 4 people.
Fengshan, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan: 3 people.
Chiayi, Chiayi Shih, Taiwan: 3 people.
Hualian, Hualien, Taiwan: 2 people.
Chihu, Changhwa, Taiwan: 1 person.
Shulin, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 1 person.
Taoyuan, Taoyuan, Taiwan: 1 person.
Pingchen, Taoyuan, Taiwan: 1 person.
Yingko, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 1 person.

This is likely an aftershock

This earthquake was an aftershock. A larger mag. 5.6 earthquake struck 3 km (1.9 mi) east in advance of this 5.4 earthquake around 7 mins earlier.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 4.6	3 days earlier May 4, 2024 03:21 (Taipei Time)	9 km (6 mi) E from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.0	2 days earlier May 4, 2024 10:31 (Taipei Time)	58 km (36 mi) N from Main Shock.
Main Shock	M 5.6	May 6, 2024 17:45 (Taipei Time)	-
Aftershock This Earthquake	M 5.4	7 mins later May 6, 2024 17:52 (Taipei Time)	3 km (1.9 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	8 hrs later May 7, 2024 02:10 (Taipei Time)	60 km (37 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	1 day later May 7, 2024 20:48 (Taipei Time)	2.8 km (1.7 mi) SW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	1 day later May 8, 2024 01:21 (Taipei Time)	12 km (8 mi) WNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.4	1 day later May 8, 2024 04:19 (Taipei Time)	22 km (14 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.9	2 days later May 8, 2024 16:40 (Taipei Time)	13 km (8 mi) SE from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. In total, 76 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.4 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 2 months.

Low tsunami risk

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.4. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 29 km (18 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 19/05/24 01:38 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.