Shallow M5.4 FORESHOCK struck on Thursday Afternoon in the Philippine Sea near Taipei (Taiwan).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on August 15th, 2024. Last updated September 11th, 2024.

In the Philippine Sea 83 kilometer from Taipei, Taiwan, a shallow and significant MAG-5.4 foreshock occurred in the late afternoon of Thursday August 15th, 2024. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 23 million people. Japan and China are also near its epicenter.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Philippine Sea, right off the coast of Taiwan (8 mi offshore), 83 kilometer south-southeast of Taipei in Taipei City. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 11 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Aug 15, 2024 17:06 (Taipei Time) - Aug 15, 2024 09:06 Universal Time.
Location:	83 km SSE of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan. Coordinates 24°23'9"N 121°55'0"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.4 Detected by 21 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.068 .
Depth:	11 km (7 mi) A very 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 23 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 23 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.

Moderate shaking and very light damage may have been experienced by an estimated 37,670 people. At V, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 16 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 23 million people, with impact levels up to V (moderate shaking, very light damage). In Japan, shaking was experienced too.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
1,149,000	II	Very weak	None
16,420,000	III	Weak	Probably none
5,349,000	IV	Light	Likely none
37,670	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

3 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Taiwan , Japan and China .

Located 44 kilometer (27 mi) south-southeast of the epicenter of this earthquake, Yilan (Yilan County, Taiwan) is the nearest significant population center. Yilan experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Taipei is located 83 km to the north-northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Taichung is located 128 km to the west-southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Banqiao is located 83 km to the northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

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)
44 km (27 mi) NNW from epicenter	Yilan Yilan County, Taiwan.	IV Light
55 km (34 mi) SW from epicenter	Hualien City Hualien County, Taiwan.	IV Light
83 km (52 mi) NNW from epicenter	Taipei Taipei City, Taiwan.	IV Light
83 km (52 mi) NW from epicenter	Banqiao New Taipei City, Taiwan.	IV Light
84 km (52 mi) NNW from epicenter	Keelung Keelung, Taiwan.	III Weak
84 km (52 mi) NW from epicenter	Daxi Taoyuan City , Taiwan.	III Weak
92 km (57 mi) NW from epicenter	Taoyuan City Taoyuan City , Taiwan.	III Weak
107 km (66 mi) WNW from epicenter	Hsinchu Hsinchu County, Taiwan.	III Weak
107 km (66 mi) WSW from epicenter	Puli Nantou County, Taiwan.	III Weak
128 km (80 mi) WSW from epicenter	Taichung Taichung City, Taiwan.	III Weak
134 km (83 mi) WSW from epicenter	Zhongxing New Village Nantou County, Taiwan.	III Weak
137 km (85 mi) WSW from epicenter	Nantou Nantou County, Taiwan.	III Weak
138 km (86 mi) WSW from epicenter	Lugu Nantou County, Taiwan.	III Weak
144 km (89 mi) WSW from epicenter	Yuanlin Changhua County, Taiwan.	III Weak
158 km (98 mi) WSW from epicenter	Douliu Yunlin County, Taiwan.	III Weak
204 km (127 mi) SW from epicenter	Yujing Tainan City, Taiwan.	III Weak
227 km (141 mi) E from epicenter	Ishigaki Okinawa, Japan.
233 km (145 mi) SW from epicenter	Tainan Tainan City, Taiwan.	III Weak
254 km (158 mi) WSW from epicenter	Magong Penghu County , Taiwan.
256 km (159 mi) SW from epicenter	Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, Taiwan.	III Weak
261 km (162 mi) SW from epicenter	Donggang Pingtung County, Taiwan.
291 km (181 mi) SSW from epicenter	Hengchun Pingtung County, Taiwan.
296 km (184 mi) NW from epicenter	Tantou Fujian, China.
296 km (184 mi) WNW from epicenter	Fuqing Fujian, China.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is V. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

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 53 people in 3 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 53 people have reported shaking in 22 places in 3 countries (Taiwan, Japan, Philippines).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: 12 people.
Sanchung, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 6 people.
Taoyuan, Taoyuan, Taiwan: 5 people.
Taichung, Taichung Shih, Taiwan: 4 people.
Luchou, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 3 people.
Chupei, Hsinchu Hsien, Taiwan: 3 people.
Taipei, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
Chungho, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
Hsintien, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
Sanhsia, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.

This is likely a foreshock

This earthquake was followed by a stronger MAG-6.1 earthquake, classifying this earthquake as a foreshock.

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 4.4	2 days earlier Aug 14, 2024 19:22 (Taipei Time)	64 km (40 mi) SSE from Main Shock.
Foreshock This Earthquake	M 5.4	14 hrs earlier Aug 15, 2024 17:06 (Taipei Time)	73 km (45 mi) N from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.3	14 hrs earlier Aug 15, 2024 17:16 (Taipei Time)	74 km (46 mi) N from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.6	14 hrs earlier Aug 15, 2024 17:33 (Taipei Time)	75 km (47 mi) N from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.4	9 hrs earlier Aug 15, 2024 22:39 (Taipei Time)	74 km (46 mi) N from Main Shock.
Main Shock	M 6.1	Aug 16, 2024 07:35 (Taipei Time)	-
Aftershock	M 4.7	5 mins later Aug 16, 2024 07:40 (Taipei Time)	10 km (6 mi) ESE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.1	20 hrs later Aug 17, 2024 03:27 (Taipei Time)	16 km (10 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.0	21 hrs later Aug 17, 2024 04:41 (Taipei Time)	9 km (6 mi) WNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.3	23 hrs later Aug 17, 2024 06:19 (Taipei Time)	32 km (20 mi) WNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.0	1 day later Aug 17, 2024 13:20 (Taipei Time)	75 km (47 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.7	2 days later Aug 17, 2024 21:10 (Taipei Time)	71 km (44 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.1	2 days later Aug 18, 2024 18:58 (Taipei Time)	17 km (11 mi) W from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this 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. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since May 10th, 2024, when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit 22 km (14 mi) further south. An even stronger magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on April 2nd, 2024.

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 11 km (7 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 11/09/24 11:48 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.