Significant M5.9 Earthquake hit in the Philippine Sea near Hualien City (Taiwan) on Wednesday Evening.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on June 11th, 2025. Last updated July 19th, 2025.

A significant Magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck in the Philippine Sea 71 kilometer from Hualien City, Taiwan in the evening of Wednesday June 11th, 2025. Around 23 million people have been exposed to shaking. Another nearby country is Japan.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Philippine Sea, right off the coast of Taiwan (7 mi offshore), 71 kilometer south of Hualien City in Hualien County. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 40 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Jun 11, 2025 19:00 (Taipei Time) - Jun 11, 2025 11:00 Universal Time.
Location:	71 km south of Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan. Coordinates 23°20'27"N 121°33'46"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.9 Detected by 26 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.061 .
Depth:	40 km (25 mi) A quite 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

An estimated 23 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.

An estimated 103,300 people were exposed to level V. At this level, moderate shaking and very light damage can be expected. The majority of people (roughly 16 million) live in an area exposed to level IV, where light shaking and likely no damage is expected.

People in 4 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Taiwan , around 23 million people, with impact levels up to V (moderate shaking, very light damage). Shaking was experienced by inhabitants of Japan too.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
7,217,000	III	Weak	Probably none
15,550,000	IV	Light	Likely none
103,300	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

Taiwan and Japan are both located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake. 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 71 kilometer (44 mi) south of the epicenter. Hualien City 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 190 km to the north and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Xiamen is located 376 km to the west-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Kaohsiung is located 151 km to the west-southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
71 km (44 mi) N from epicenter	Hualien City Hualien County, Taiwan.	IV Light
92 km (57 mi) NW from epicenter	Puli Nantou County, Taiwan.	IV Light
94 km (58 mi) WNW from epicenter	Lugu Nantou County, Taiwan.	IV Light
112 km (70 mi) NW from epicenter	Nantou Nantou County, Taiwan.	IV Light
112 km (70 mi) WNW from epicenter	Douliu Yunlin County, Taiwan.	IV Light
113 km (70 mi) NW from epicenter	Zhongxing New Village Nantou County, Taiwan.	IV Light
115 km (71 mi) WSW from epicenter	Yujing Tainan City, Taiwan.	IV Light
122 km (76 mi) NW from epicenter	Yuanlin Changhua County, Taiwan.	IV Light
127 km (79 mi) NW from epicenter	Taichung Taichung City, Taiwan.	IV Light
143 km (89 mi) WSW from epicenter	Tainan Tainan City, Taiwan.	IV Light
150 km (93 mi) SW from epicenter	Donggang Pingtung County, Taiwan.	IV Light
151 km (94 mi) WSW from epicenter	Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, Taiwan.	IV Light
159 km (99 mi) N from epicenter	Yilan Yilan County, Taiwan.	IV Light
171 km (106 mi) SSW from epicenter	Hengchun Pingtung County, Taiwan.	IV Light
173 km (107 mi) NNW from epicenter	Hsinchu Hsinchu County, Taiwan.	III Weak
174 km (108 mi) N from epicenter	Daxi Taoyuan City , Taiwan.	III Weak
186 km (116 mi) N from epicenter	Banqiao New Taipei City, Taiwan.	IV Light
186 km (116 mi) N from epicenter	Taoyuan City Taoyuan City , Taiwan.	III Weak
190 km (118 mi) N from epicenter	Taipei Taipei City, Taiwan.	IV Light
200 km (124 mi) N from epicenter	Keelung Keelung, Taiwan.	III Weak
203 km (126 mi) W from epicenter	Magong Penghu County , Taiwan.
286 km (178 mi) ENE from epicenter	Ishigaki Okinawa, Japan.
338 km (210 mi) NW from epicenter	Jiangkou Fujian, China.
343 km (213 mi) WNW from epicenter	Luoyang Fujian, China.
345 km (214 mi) WNW from epicenter	Jinjiang Fujian, China.
346 km (215 mi) NW from epicenter	Fuqing Fujian, China.
348 km (216 mi) NW from epicenter	Putian Fujian, China.
349 km (217 mi) WNW from epicenter	Quanzhou Fujian, China.
352 km (219 mi) WNW from epicenter	Jincheng Fukien, Taiwan.
359 km (223 mi) NW from epicenter	Tantou Fujian, China.
371 km (231 mi) WNW from epicenter	Ximeicun Fujian, China.
376 km (234 mi) WNW from epicenter	Xiamen Fujian, China.
379 km (235 mi) NW from epicenter	Fuzhou 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 V.

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 62 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 62 people have reported shaking in 25 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: 18 people.
Taichung, Taichung Shih, Taiwan: 7 people.
Sanchung, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 4 people.
Hualian, Hualien, Taiwan: 3 people.
Tainan, Tainan Shih, Taiwan: 3 people.
Chushan, Nantou, Taiwan: 2 people.
Talin, Chiayi Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
Taoyuan, Taoyuan, Taiwan: 2 people.
Chupei, Hsinchu Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
Fengshan, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.

Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 1 smaller aftershock was detected. Just 5 hrs after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4.3 was detected 3 km (2.1 mi) northwest of this earthquake.

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	Jun 11, 2025 19:00 (Taipei Time)	-
Aftershock	M 4.3	5 hrs later Jun 12, 2025 00:01 (Taipei Time)	3 km (2.1 mi) NW 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.

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 20th, 2025, when a 6 magnitude earthquake hit 105 km (66 mi) further west. An even stronger magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on April 2nd, 2024.

In total, 25 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 40 km (25 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 19/07/25 16:08 (). 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.