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

Written by Earthquakelist.org on December 24th, 2025. Last updated January 29th, 2026.

In the late afternoon of Wednesday December 24th, 2025, a shallow and strong M6.0 earthquake hit under land 97 kilometer from Kaohsiung in Taiwan. Around 13 million people have been exposed to shaking.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Taiwan, 97 kilometer (60 mi) east-northeast of Kaohsiung. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 8 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:	97 km ENE of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Coordinates 22°57'53"N 121°10'35"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:	8 km (5 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VIII Severe On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake in a coastal area, it appears to have occurred under land (10 km from the sea) with a magnitude that is usually not strong enough to 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 98% 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 10,160 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). Shaking was experienced by inhabitants of Japan too.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
4,099,000	III	Weak	Probably none
8,877,000	IV	Light	Likely none
76,250	V	Moderate	Very light
101,000	VI	Strong	Light
10,160	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 75 kilometer (47 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 234 km to the north (intensity unknown, possibly low). Kaohsiung is located 97 km to the west-southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Xiamen is located 357 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)
75 km (47 mi) WNW from epicenter	Yujing Tainan City, Taiwan.	IV Light
93 km (58 mi) SW from epicenter	Donggang Pingtung County, Taiwan.	IV Light
97 km (60 mi) WSW from epicenter	Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, Taiwan.	IV Light
97 km (60 mi) NNW from epicenter	Lugu Nantou County, Taiwan.	IV Light
99 km (62 mi) W from epicenter	Tainan Tainan City, Taiwan.	IV Light
105 km (65 mi) NW from epicenter	Douliu Yunlin County, Taiwan.	IV Light
113 km (70 mi) N from epicenter	Puli Nantou County, Taiwan.	IV Light
116 km (72 mi) SSW from epicenter	Hengchun Pingtung County, Taiwan.	IV Light
118 km (73 mi) NNW from epicenter	Nantou Nantou County, Taiwan.	III Weak
121 km (75 mi) NNE from epicenter	Hualien City Hualien County, Taiwan.	IV Light
121 km (75 mi) NNW from epicenter	Zhongxing New Village Nantou County, Taiwan.	III Weak
126 km (78 mi) NNW from epicenter	Yuanlin Changhua County, Taiwan.	IV Light
141 km (88 mi) NNW from epicenter	Taichung Taichung City, Taiwan.	III Weak
176 km (109 mi) WNW from epicenter	Magong Penghu County , Taiwan.	III Weak
206 km (128 mi) N from epicenter	Hsinchu Hsinchu County, Taiwan.
208 km (129 mi) NNE from epicenter	Yilan Yilan County, Taiwan.
214 km (133 mi) N from epicenter	Daxi Taoyuan City , Taiwan.
226 km (140 mi) N from epicenter	Taoyuan City Taoyuan City , Taiwan.
230 km (143 mi) N from epicenter	Banqiao New Taipei City, Taiwan.
234 km (145 mi) N from epicenter	Taipei Taipei City, Taiwan.
247 km (153 mi) NNE from epicenter	Keelung Keelung, Taiwan.
334 km (208 mi) WNW from epicenter	Jincheng Fukien, Taiwan.
335 km (208 mi) NW from epicenter	Jinjiang Fujian, China.
337 km (209 mi) NW from epicenter	Luoyang Fujian, China.
340 km (211 mi) ENE from epicenter	Ishigaki Okinawa, Japan.
341 km (212 mi) NW from epicenter	Quanzhou Fujian, China.
345 km (214 mi) NW from epicenter	Jiangkou Fujian, China.
352 km (219 mi) NW from epicenter	Putian Fujian, China.
357 km (222 mi) WNW from epicenter	Xiamen Fujian, China.
358 km (222 mi) NNW from epicenter	Fuqing Fujian, China.
362 km (225 mi) NW from epicenter	Ximeicun Fujian, China.
376 km (234 mi) NNW from epicenter	Tantou Fujian, China.
380 km (236 mi) WNW from epicenter	Shima Fujian, China.
393 km (244 mi) NNW from epicenter	Fuzhou Fujian, China.
398 km (247 mi) WNW from epicenter	Zhangzhou 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 60 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 60 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: 11 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 4.4 magnitude earthquake hit 10 hrs later 9 km (5 mi) south-southeast of this earthquake.

This main shock was prefaced by 1 smaller foreshock. A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit 1 day earlier nearby.

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
Foreshock	M 4.8	1 day earlier Dec 23, 2025 15:46 (Taipei Time)	97 km (60 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 6.0	Dec 24, 2025 17:47 (Taipei Time)	-
Aftershock	M 4.4	10 hrs later Dec 25, 2025 03:41 (Taipei Time)	9 km (5 mi) SSE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	11 hrs later Dec 25, 2025 04:40 (Taipei Time)	14 km (8 mi) SW 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 69 km (43 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.

Tsunami very unlikely

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.

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	This earthquake appears to have struck on land near a coastal area (10 km from 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 8 km (5 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 29/01/26 01:58 (). 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.