Shallow M6.0 Earthquake struck on Wednesday Afternoon near Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on December 24th, 2025. Last updated January 8th, 2026.

In the late afternoon of Wednesday December 24th, 2025, a shallow and strong M6.0 earthquake hit under land 95 kilometer from Kaohsiung in Taiwan. Around 13 million people have been exposed to shaking.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Taiwan, 95 kilometer (59 mi) east-northeast of Kaohsiung. 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:	Dec 24, 2025 17:47 (Taipei Time) - Dec 24, 2025 09:47 Universal Time.
Location:	95 km ENE of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Coordinates 22°51'2"N 121°12'25"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.0 Detected by 52 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.043 .
Depth:	10 km (6 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

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 100% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 13 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 13 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.

An estimated 1,130 people were exposed to level VII. At this level, very strong shaking and likely moderate damage can be expected. Intensity level IV was experienced by the majority of people (around 9 million). In their region, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected.

People in 4 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Taiwan , around 13 million people, with impact levels up to VII (very strong shaking, likely moderate damage). A smaller number of people were exposed in the following countries: Japan and The Philippines.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
3,913,000	III	Weak	Probably none
8,509,000	IV	Light	Likely none
55,200	V	Moderate	Very light
123,800	VI	Strong	Light
1,130	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 may have been felt in Taiwan . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Yujing in Tainan City, Taiwan. Yujing is located 82 kilometer (51 mi) east-southeast of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Yujing is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Major cities near this earthquake: Taipei is located 247 km to the north (intensity unknown, possibly low). Kaohsiung is located 95 km to the west-southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Xiamen is located 366 km to the west-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low).

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)
82 km (51 mi) WNW from epicenter	Yujing Tainan City, Taiwan.	IV Light
89 km (55 mi) WSW from epicenter	Donggang Pingtung County, Taiwan.	IV Light
95 km (59 mi) WSW from epicenter	Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, Taiwan.	IV Light
103 km (64 mi) W from epicenter	Tainan Tainan City, Taiwan.	IV Light
105 km (65 mi) SSW from epicenter	Hengchun Pingtung County, Taiwan.	IV Light
110 km (68 mi) NNW from epicenter	Lugu Nantou County, Taiwan.	III Weak
117 km (73 mi) NW from epicenter	Douliu Yunlin County, Taiwan.	IV Light
126 km (78 mi) NNW from epicenter	Puli Nantou County, Taiwan.	III Weak
131 km (81 mi) NNW from epicenter	Nantou Nantou County, Taiwan.	III Weak
132 km (82 mi) NNE from epicenter	Hualien City Hualien County, Taiwan.	IV Light
134 km (83 mi) NNW from epicenter	Zhongxing New Village Nantou County, Taiwan.	III Weak
139 km (86 mi) NNW from epicenter	Yuanlin Changhua County, Taiwan.	IV Light
154 km (96 mi) NNW from epicenter	Taichung Taichung City, Taiwan.	III Weak
184 km (114 mi) WNW from epicenter	Magong Penghu County , Taiwan.	III Weak
219 km (136 mi) N from epicenter	Hsinchu Hsinchu County, Taiwan.
219 km (136 mi) NNE from epicenter	Yilan Yilan County, Taiwan.
226 km (140 mi) N from epicenter	Daxi Taoyuan City , Taiwan.
238 km (148 mi) N from epicenter	Taoyuan City Taoyuan City , Taiwan.
242 km (150 mi) N from epicenter	Banqiao New Taipei City, Taiwan.
247 km (153 mi) N from epicenter	Taipei Taipei City, Taiwan.
259 km (161 mi) NNE from epicenter	Keelung Keelung, Taiwan.
343 km (213 mi) ENE from epicenter	Ishigaki Okinawa, Japan.
343 km (213 mi) WNW from epicenter	Jincheng Fukien, Taiwan.
346 km (215 mi) NW from epicenter	Jinjiang Fujian, China.
348 km (216 mi) NW from epicenter	Luoyang Fujian, China.
352 km (219 mi) NW from epicenter	Quanzhou Fujian, China.
357 km (222 mi) NW from epicenter	Jiangkou Fujian, China.
364 km (226 mi) NW from epicenter	Putian Fujian, China.
366 km (227 mi) WNW from epicenter	Xiamen Fujian, China.
370 km (230 mi) NNW from epicenter	Fuqing Fujian, China.
372 km (231 mi) NW from epicenter	Ximeicun Fujian, China.
389 km (242 mi) NNW from epicenter	Tantou Fujian, China.
389 km (242 mi) WNW from epicenter	Shima 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 VII.

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 59 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 59 people have reported shaking in 27 places in 2 countries (Taiwan, China).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.
Tainan, Tainan Shih, Taiwan: 6 people.
Kangshan, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan: 5 people.
Taitung, Taitung, Taiwan: 4 people.
Taichung, Taichung Shih, Taiwan: 4 people.
Sanchung, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 3 people.
Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung Shih, Taiwan: 3 people.
Fengshan, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan: 3 people.
Taipei, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
Pingtung, Pingtung, Taiwan: 2 people.

2 Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 2 smaller aftershocks occurred. A 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit 10 hrs later 7 km (4 mi) north-northeast 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 6.0	Dec 24, 2025 17:47 (Taipei Time)	-
Aftershock	M 4.3	10 hrs later Dec 25, 2025 03:41 (Taipei Time)	7 km (4 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	11 hrs later Dec 25, 2025 04:40 (Taipei Time)	13 km (8 mi) WNW 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 January 20th, 2025, when a 6 magnitude earthquake hit 77 km (48 mi) further west-northwest. An even stronger magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on April 2nd, 2024.

In total, 18 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 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 7 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 6. 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 08/01/26 01:28 (). 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.