Taiwan Earthquake Mw 6.4
Posting Date: 04 March 2010
Location: Southern Taiwan
Peril: Earthquake
Shortly after 00:00 UTC on Thursday, 4 March an earthquake of moment magnitude (Mw) 6.4 stuck in the mountainous region of southern Taiwan. The USGS have reported a focal depth of 14.4 miles (23.1 km) and an epicentral location at 22.91N, 120.82E; 40 miles (65km) east northeast of Kao-hsiung ; 155 miles (250km) south-southwest of the capital Tai-pei. The USGS ShakeMap shows that areas in the immediate vicinity of the earthquakes epicenter to have experienced strong shaking of V on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale, though the population exposed to this shaking is only 200.
Kao-hsiung (Taiwan’s second largest city) experienced shaking of IV MMI, where the potential for damage is at maximum light – to both vulnerable and earthquake resistant structures. The majority of the island experienced shaking of II to III MMI.
Some minor damage to property has been reported, and dozens of people were injured during the earthquake. Undersea internet cables were damaged by the quake, resulting in disruptions to communications in and around the south on Thursday and Friday, though services have now been restored. Additionally there are reports of temporary power outages. Online reports are of a high speed train being dislodged from its tracks (no causalities have been reported from the incident) and of transportation disruption - rail services in southern and central Taiwan have been suspended, as has the subway system in Kao- hsiung city. Additionally, two of the world’s largest contract computer chipmakers reported a 36-hour production delay in their facilities in Tainan. The earthquake also ignited at least 5 fires according to media reports, including a large fire in a textile factory in Tainan (a town close to the epicenter).
Taiwan, through its location on the pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to earthquakes and often when they occur in this region landsides are triggers which contribute to loss. There are unconfirmed reports of landslides in Kaohsiung county, southwest of the earthquake’s epicenter.
The earthquake is understood to have occurred in the region that was particularly affected by Typhoon Morakot in August 2009. RMS will continue to monitor damage reports from the region.
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