A sequence of earthquakes has rattled Taiwan, with the latest event recorded today at a magnitude of 5.9. The tremors struck the island in rapid succession, bringing reports of one fatality and dozens of injuries as local authorities compiled the initial assessments.
Per Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, the latest quake occurred at a shallow depth of 13.4 kilometers in Hualien County on the island’s east coast, at 10:07 am local time. Analysts noted that this event bears resemblance to the magnitude 6.8 quake that occurred the day before, suggesting a possible aftershock pattern in the same region and fault system.
The ongoing seismic activity has caused significant disruption to daily life. Landslides and rockfalls have blocked roads on Liushishi Mountain, trapping hundreds of residents and travelers. In several districts, at least three bridges sustained structural damage or collapsed, complicating evacuations and relief efforts as authorities work to restore safe access routes.
Rail transportation has also been affected. At least six cars derailed on a train in the affected area, though no injuries were reported at Dongli Station. The incident prompted a temporary halt to services along the line connecting Hualien and Taitung, with crews rerouting and inspecting tracks as a precautionary measure.
Power outages have been widespread, impacting more than 7,000 households in Yuli and leaving neighborhoods across major cities, including Taiwan’s capital, without electricity. Restoration teams are prioritizing critical infrastructure and residential zones that report the longest outages while assessing the broader grid stability in the aftermath of the earthquakes.
Taiwan sits near the boundary where the Philippine and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. This geological setting makes earthquakes a frequent and expected hazard for the island, driving ongoing efforts in building resilience, early warning systems, and robust emergency response planning that can reduce risk and speed recovery after future events.