On Tuesday Morning a Significant M5.9 Earthquake struck in the Philippine Sea 157km from Taipei (Taiwan).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on October 23rd, 2023. Last updated December 5th, 2023.

In the morning of Tuesday October 24th, 2023, a significant MAG-5.9 earthquake hit in the Philippine Sea 157 kilometer from Taipei, Taiwan. Roughly 13 million people may have felt this earthquake. Another country near the epicenter is Japan.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Philippine Sea, 101 kilometers (63 mi) off the coast of Taiwan, 157 kilometer south-east of Taipei in Taipei City. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 35 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Oct 24, 2023 07:05 (Taipei Time) - Oct 23, 2023 23:05 Universal Time.
Location:	157 km SE of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan. Coordinates 24°3'37"N 122°38'46"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.9 Detected by 27 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.06 .
Depth:	35 km (22 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate 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 13 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 13 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

Light shaking and likely no damage may have been experienced by an estimated 8,001,000 people. At IV, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Taiwan , around 13 million people, with impact levels up to IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Shaking was experienced by inhabitants of Japan too.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
4,927,000	III	Weak	Probably none
8,001,000	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	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. Futher away, this earthquake may also have been felt in China.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Hualien City in Hualien County, Taiwan. Hualien City is located 106 kilometer (66 mi) east of the epicenter. Hualien City experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Taipei is located 157 km to the northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Kaohsiung is located 287 km to the southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Taichung is located 199 km to the west (intensity unknown, possibly low).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
106 km (66 mi) W from epicenter	Hualien City Hualien County, Taiwan.	IV Light
119 km (74 mi) NW from epicenter	Yilan Yilan County, Taiwan.	IV Light
150 km (93 mi) NW from epicenter	Keelung Keelung, Taiwan.	IV Light
156 km (97 mi) ENE from epicenter	Ishigaki Okinawa, Japan.	III Weak
157 km (98 mi) NW from epicenter	Taipei Taipei City, Taiwan.	IV Light
160 km (99 mi) NW from epicenter	Banqiao New Taipei City, Taiwan.	IV Light
165 km (103 mi) WNW from epicenter	Daxi Taoyuan City , Taiwan.	III Weak
171 km (106 mi) NW from epicenter	Taoyuan City Taoyuan City , Taiwan.	IV Light
171 km (106 mi) W from epicenter	Puli Nantou County, Taiwan.	IV Light
189 km (117 mi) WNW from epicenter	Hsinchu Hsinchu County, Taiwan.	III Weak
196 km (122 mi) W from epicenter	Lugu Nantou County, Taiwan.	III Weak
199 km (124 mi) W from epicenter	Taichung Taichung City, Taiwan.
199 km (124 mi) W from epicenter	Zhongxing New Village Nantou County, Taiwan.
202 km (126 mi) W from epicenter	Nantou Nantou County, Taiwan.
211 km (131 mi) W from epicenter	Yuanlin Changhua County, Taiwan.
217 km (135 mi) W from epicenter	Douliu Yunlin County, Taiwan.
246 km (153 mi) WSW from epicenter	Yujing Tainan City, Taiwan.
275 km (171 mi) WSW from epicenter	Tainan Tainan City, Taiwan.
281 km (175 mi) ENE from epicenter	Hirara Okinawa, Japan.
286 km (178 mi) SW from epicenter	Donggang Pingtung County, Taiwan.
287 km (178 mi) SW from epicenter	Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
300 km (186 mi) SW from epicenter	Hengchun Pingtung County, Taiwan.
316 km (196 mi) W from epicenter	Magong Penghu County , Taiwan.
377 km (234 mi) NW from epicenter	Tantou Fujian, China.
379 km (235 mi) WNW from epicenter	Fuqing Fujian, China.
383 km (238 mi) WNW from epicenter	Jiangkou Fujian, China.
398 km (247 mi) WNW from epicenter	Putian Fujian, China.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is IV.

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 51 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 51 people have reported shaking in 21 places in 2 countries (Taiwan, Japan).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: 21 people.
Sanchung, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 4 people.
Taoyuan, Taoyuan, Taiwan: 2 people.
Chungli, Taoyuan, Taiwan: 2 people.
Suao, Ilan, Taiwan: 2 people.
Tainan, Tainan Shih, Taiwan: 2 people.
Chungho, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
Taipei, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
Hsinchu, Hsinchu Shih, Taiwan: 2 people.
Chupei, Hsinchu Hsien, Taiwan: 1 person.

Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 1 smaller aftershock was detected. At a distance of 5 km (3 mi) west of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 4 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 4.6

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
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.9	Oct 24, 2023 07:05 (Taipei Time)	-
Aftershock	M 4.6	4 hrs later Oct 24, 2023 10:54 (Taipei Time)	5 km (3 mi) W 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.

The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk

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. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since December 15th, 2022, when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit 91 km (56 mi) further west-southwest. An even stronger magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on September 18th, 2022.

In total, 24 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.9 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 5 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 5.9. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 35 km (22 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 05/12/23 05:28 (). 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.