A shallow Magnitude 4.8 foreshock struck under land 4 kilometer from Yujing in Taiwan in the evening of Friday January 24th, 2025. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. China is also near its epicenter.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Taiwan, 4 kilometer (2 mi) west-northwest of Yujing in Tainan City. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
| Date and Time: | Jan 24, 2025 19:18 (Taipei Time) - Jan 24, 2025 11:18 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 4 km WNW of Yujing, Tainan City, Taiwan. Coordinates 23°8'27"N 120°25'42"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 4.8 Detected by 18 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.073 . |
| Depth: | 10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Nearby towns and cities
This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. Taiwan and China are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.
The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Yujing in Tainan City, Taiwan. Yujing is located 4 kilometer (2 mi) west-northwest of the epicenter.
Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Taipei is located 240 km to the north-northeast. Tainan is located 28 km to the southwest. Kaohsiung is located 59 km to the south.
An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 4 km (2 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Yujing Tainan City, Taiwan. |
| 28 km (17 mi) SW from epicenter |
Tainan Tainan City, Taiwan. |
| 59 km (37 mi) S from epicenter |
Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, Taiwan. |
| 64 km (40 mi) N from epicenter |
Douliu Yunlin County, Taiwan. |
| 75 km (47 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Lugu Nantou County, Taiwan. |
| 75 km (47 mi) S from epicenter |
Donggang Pingtung County, Taiwan. |
| 89 km (55 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Nantou Nantou County, Taiwan. |
| 92 km (57 mi) N from epicenter |
Yuanlin Changhua County, Taiwan. |
| 95 km (59 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Zhongxing New Village Nantou County, Taiwan. |
| 98 km (61 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Magong Penghu County , Taiwan. |
| 107 km (66 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Puli Nantou County, Taiwan. |
| 115 km (71 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Taichung Taichung City, Taiwan. |
| 130 km (81 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Hengchun Pingtung County, Taiwan. |
| 152 km (94 mi) NE from epicenter |
Hualien City Hualien County, Taiwan. |
| 193 km (120 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Hsinchu Hsinchu County, Taiwan. |
| 213 km (132 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Daxi Taoyuan City , Taiwan. |
| 224 km (139 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Taoyuan City Taoyuan City , Taiwan. |
| 225 km (140 mi) NE from epicenter |
Yilan Yilan County, Taiwan. |
| 233 km (145 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Banqiao New Taipei City, Taiwan. |
| 240 km (149 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Taipei Taipei City, Taiwan. |
| 258 km (160 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Keelung Keelung, Taiwan. |
| 259 km (161 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Jincheng Fukien, Taiwan. |
| 265 km (165 mi) NW from epicenter |
Jinjiang Fujian, China. |
| 269 km (167 mi) NW from epicenter |
Luoyang Fujian, China. |
| 272 km (169 mi) NW from epicenter |
Quanzhou Fujian, China. |
| 281 km (175 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Xiamen Fujian, China. |
| 289 km (180 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Jiangkou Fujian, China. |
| 292 km (181 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ximeicun Fujian, China. |
| 293 km (182 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Putian Fujian, China. |
Shaking reported by 8 people
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 8 people have reported shaking in 5 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:
- Fengshan, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
- Taichung, Taichung Shih, Taiwan: 2 people.
- Tainan, Tainan Shih, Taiwan: 2 people.
- Chiayi, Chiayi Shih, Taiwan: 1 person.
- Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung Shih, Taiwan: 1 person.
This is likely a foreshock
This earthquake was followed by a stronger MAG-5.2 earthquake, classifying this earthquake as a foreshock.
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreshock | M 4.3 |
4 days earlier Jan 22, 2025 00:27 (Taipei Time) | 17 km (11 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.3 |
4 days earlier Jan 22, 2025 03:42 (Taipei Time) | 29 km (18 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.4 |
4 days earlier Jan 22, 2025 05:30 (Taipei Time) | 10 km (6 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.5 |
4 days earlier Jan 22, 2025 08:14 (Taipei Time) | 22 km (14 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.2 |
4 days earlier Jan 22, 2025 08:41 (Taipei Time) | 15 km (10 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.3 |
3 days earlier Jan 23, 2025 05:31 (Taipei Time) | 14 km (9 mi) ENE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.1 |
3 days earlier Jan 23, 2025 15:46 (Taipei Time) | 17 km (11 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.1 |
2 days earlier Jan 24, 2025 01:00 (Taipei Time) | 16 km (10 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.0 |
2 days earlier Jan 24, 2025 17:16 (Taipei Time) | 13 km (8 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock This Earthquake |
M 4.8 |
2 days earlier Jan 24, 2025 19:18 (Taipei Time) | 4 km (2.5 mi) NNW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.9 |
1 day earlier Jan 25, 2025 06:01 (Taipei Time) | 6 km (4 mi) NNW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 5.1 |
12 hrs earlier Jan 25, 2025 19:49 (Taipei Time) | 14 km (9 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.5 |
11 hrs earlier Jan 25, 2025 21:00 (Taipei Time) | 17 km (11 mi) N from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.2 |
8 hrs earlier Jan 26, 2025 00:07 (Taipei Time) | 12 km (8 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.7 |
7 hrs earlier Jan 26, 2025 00:10 (Taipei Time) | 50 km (31 mi) SSE from Main Shock. |
| Main Shock | M 5.2 |
Jan 26, 2025 07:38 (Taipei Time) | - |
| Aftershock | M 4.1 |
17 hrs later Jan 27, 2025 00:35 (Taipei Time) | 7 km (4 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 4.2 |
18 hrs later Jan 27, 2025 02:06 (Taipei Time) | 15 km (10 mi) NNW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 5.0 |
1 day later Jan 27, 2025 08:18 (Taipei Time) | 83 km (52 mi) SE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 4.4 |
1 day later Jan 27, 2025 09:25 (Taipei Time) | 75 km (47 mi) ESE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 4.2 |
1 day later Jan 27, 2025 09:58 (Taipei Time) | 13 km (8 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 4.3 |
2 days later Jan 27, 2025 22:59 (Taipei Time) | 14 km (9 mi) NNW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 4.0 |
2 days later Jan 28, 2025 07:23 (Taipei Time) | 10 km (6 mi) NNE 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 January 22nd, 2025, when a 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit 163 km (101 mi) further south-east. An even stronger magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on April 2nd, 2024.
In total, 407 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.8 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 days.
Tsunami very unlikely
While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always 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 | Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 4.8. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 10 km (6 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 16/02/25 03:18 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000pm0v
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20250124_0000117
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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