Shallow M6.1 Earthquake struck on Friday Morning in the Philippine Sea near Hualien City (Taiwan).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on August 15th, 2024. Last updated September 17th, 2024.

In the Philippine Sea 30 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, 23 kilometers (14 mi) off the coast of Taiwan, 30 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.
Location:	30 km SE of Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan. Coordinates 23°44'59"N 121°46'6"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:	VII Very 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 98,570 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.

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 30 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 146 km to the north and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Xiamen is located 383 km to the west-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Hualien City is located 30 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

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.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

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 11 km (7 mi) east-southeast of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 5 mins 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

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

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 40 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

Sources

Last updated 17/09/24 01:58 (). 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.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000n7b8
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20240815_0000290
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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