In the Philippine Sea 31 kilometer from Hualien City, Taiwan, a shallow and strong MAG-6.1 earthquake occurred in the morning of Friday August 16th, 2024. Around 24 million people have been exposed to shaking. Japan and China are also near its epicenter.
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Earthquake Summary
This earthquake hit under water in the Philippine Sea, 24 kilometers (15 mi) off the coast of Taiwan, 31 kilometer south-east of Hualien City in Hualien County. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 14 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
Date and Time: | Aug 16, 2024 07:35 (Taipei Time) - Aug 15, 2024 23:35 Universal Time. |
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Location: | 31 km SE of Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan. Coordinates 23°44'46"N 121°46'30"E. |
Map: | ![]() Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
Magnitude: | MAG 6.1 Detected by 48 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.045 . |
Depth: | 14 km (9 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
The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:
Some landmarks damaged by landslides in Hualien.
Based on scientific estimates by the 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
An estimated 24 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.
The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is VI, which corresponds with strong shaking and probably light damage. Roughly 97,450 people are expected to be exposed to this level. The majority of people (roughly 19 million) live in an area exposed to level IV, where light shaking and likely no damage is expected.
People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 23 million people were exposed to shaking in Taiwan , with level VI (strong shaking, probably light damage) as the highest recorded. In China and Japan, a smaller number of people were exposed.
People | MMI Level | Shaking | Damage |
---|---|---|---|
0 | I |
Not noticable | None |
0 | II |
Very weak | None |
4,445,000 | III |
Weak | Probably none |
18,840,000 | IV |
Light | Likely none |
142,200 | V |
Moderate | Very light |
97,450 | 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 , Japan and China are all within 300km distance of its epicenter.
Located 31 kilometer (19 mi) south-east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Hualien City (Hualien County, Taiwan) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Hualien City is estimated to be around level VI on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (strong shaking, probably light damage).
Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Taipei is located 147 km to the north and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Xiamen is located 384 km to the west-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Hualien City is located 31 km to the northwest and experienced an intensity of VI (strong shaking, probably light 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
Distance | Place | Intensity (MMI) |
---|---|---|
31 km (19 mi) NW from epicenter |
Hualien City Hualien County, Taiwan. |
VI
Strong |
85 km (53 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Puli Nantou County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
104 km (65 mi) W from epicenter |
Lugu Nantou County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
112 km (70 mi) N from epicenter |
Yilan Yilan County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
113 km (70 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Zhongxing New Village Nantou County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
115 km (71 mi) W from epicenter |
Nantou Nantou County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
119 km (74 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Taichung Taichung City, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
124 km (77 mi) W from epicenter |
Yuanlin Changhua County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
125 km (78 mi) W from epicenter |
Douliu Yunlin County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
136 km (85 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Daxi Taoyuan City , Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
143 km (89 mi) NW from epicenter |
Hsinchu Hsinchu County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
144 km (89 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Banqiao New Taipei City, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
147 km (91 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Taoyuan City Taoyuan City , Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
147 km (91 mi) N from epicenter |
Taipei Taipei City, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
151 km (94 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Yujing Tainan City, Taiwan. |
III
Weak |
154 km (96 mi) N from epicenter |
Keelung Keelung, Taiwan. |
III
Weak |
180 km (112 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Tainan Tainan City, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
195 km (121 mi) SW from epicenter |
Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
197 km (122 mi) SW from epicenter |
Donggang Pingtung County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
221 km (137 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Hengchun Pingtung County, Taiwan. |
III
Weak |
224 km (139 mi) W from epicenter |
Magong Penghu County , Taiwan. |
|
251 km (156 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Ishigaki Okinawa, Japan. |
|
325 km (202 mi) NW from epicenter |
Jiangkou Fujian, China. |
|
328 km (204 mi) NW from epicenter |
Fuqing Fujian, China. |
|
336 km (209 mi) NW from epicenter |
Tantou Fujian, China. |
|
337 km (209 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Putian Fujian, China. |
|
341 km (212 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Luoyang Fujian, China. |
|
346 km (215 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Jinjiang Fujian, China. |
|
348 km (216 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Quanzhou Fujian, China. |
|
358 km (222 mi) NW from epicenter |
Fuzhou Fujian, China. |
|
359 km (223 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Jincheng Fukien, Taiwan. |
|
370 km (230 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Ximeicun Fujian, China. |
|
376 km (234 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Hirara Okinawa, Japan. |
|
384 km (239 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Xiamen Fujian, China. |
|
392 km (244 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Songcheng Fujian, China. |
|
396 km (246 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ningde 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 VI.
![](https://www.codaso.net/earthquakes/img/shakemap/978779.png)
Shaking reported by 59 people in 3 countries
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 59 people have reported shaking in 30 places in 3 countries (Taiwan, China, 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: 10 people.
- Taichung, Taichung Shih, Taiwan: 8 people.
- Fengshan, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan: 5 people.
- Hsinchu, Hsinchu Shih, Taiwan: 3 people.
- Sanchung, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 3 people.
- Touliu, Yunlin, Taiwan: 2 people.
- Tanshui, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
- Taipei, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
- Hsinchuang, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
- Tainan, Tainan Shih, Taiwan: 2 people.
7 Aftershocks detected
After this earthquake struck, 7 smaller aftershocks occurred. At a distance of 71 km (44 mi) north of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 days later. It measured a magnitude of 4.7
This main shock was prefaced by 5 smaller foreshocks. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 14 hrs earlier. It measured a magnitude of 5.4
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
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 | 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 This Earthquake |
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?
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 April 3rd, 2024, when a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit 41 km (25 mi) further north-northwest. An even stronger magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on April 2nd, 2024.
In total, 13 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.1 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 9 months.
Low tsunami risk
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 6.1. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 14 km (9 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 12/09/24 01:38 (). 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.