What caused the recent earthquakes in Taiwan?

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In summary, earlier today there was a M6.5 earthquake in Taiwan, followed by a M6.9 earthquake the next day. Both had an oblique slip fault motion and caused some damage, including train carriages derailing and a collapsed building. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties. The earthquakes were preceded by a 6.4 magnitude tremor the previous day. Tsunami warnings were cancelled and chip foundries were unaffected. Currently, more than 600 people are trapped by blocked mountain roads.
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davenn
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TL;DR Summary
Mw6.5 and 6.9 SE Taiwan
Earlier today ( my time) ...

M 6.5 - Taiwan​

  • 2022-09-17 13:41:17 (UTC)
  • 23.096°N 121.406°E
  • 10.0 km depth

this has been followed by a M6.9 ...

M 6.9 - 86 km SE of Lugu, Taiwan​

  • 2022-09-18 06:44:14 (UTC)
  • 23.159°N 121.316°E
  • 10.0 km depth
that is still coming in ( as I type) on my seismograph here in Sydney, Australia

220917-18 UT M6.5 and 6.9 SE Taiwan zhi.gif


Both events had an oblique slip fault motion ... a mix of strike-slip and thrust

1663488130610.png


for a brief explanation of moment tensor "beachballs" see this page of mine...
https://www.sydneystormcity.com/fomec.htm

cheers
Dave
 
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Yikes, those are strong. It looks like no causualties so far because of the location. Fingers crossed...

  • Train carriages derailed, four rescued from collapsed building
  • Tsunami warnings cancelled, chip foundries unaffected
  • More than 600 trapped by blocked mountain roads
  • Quake follows 6.4 magnitude tremor on Saturday
TAIPEI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the sparsely populated southeastern part of Taiwan on Sunday, the island's weather bureau said, derailing train carriages, causing a convenience store to collapse and trapping hundreds on mountain roads.

The weather bureau said the epicentre was in Taitung county, and followed a 6.4 magnitude temblor on Saturday evening in the same area, which caused no casualties. read more
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/powerful-earthquake-hits-southeast-taiwan-2022-09-18/
 
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OK a couple of maps showing the M4 + events

Originally the M6.5 was the main shock, till the 6.9 occurred. It then became the mainshock
and the 6.5 a large foreshock

Regional map...
220917-18 Taiwan quakes.JPG


zoomed in ...
220917-18 Taiwan quakes zoomed.JPG
cheers
Dave
 
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FAQ: What caused the recent earthquakes in Taiwan?

What caused the recent earthquakes in Taiwan?

The recent earthquakes in Taiwan were caused by tectonic activity along the boundaries of the Eurasian and Philippine Sea plates. Taiwan is located in a seismically active region known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, where these two plates meet and constantly shift and collide with each other.

How often do earthquakes occur in Taiwan?

Taiwan experiences frequent earthquakes due to its location on the Ring of Fire. On average, there are about 18,000 earthquakes in Taiwan each year, with most of them being minor and not felt by the population.

Can earthquakes in Taiwan be predicted?

Unfortunately, earthquakes cannot be predicted with certainty. While scientists can monitor and study seismic activity in the region, there is currently no method for accurately predicting when and where an earthquake will occur.

What is the magnitude of the recent earthquakes in Taiwan?

The recent earthquakes in Taiwan ranged in magnitude from 5.0 to 6.4 on the Richter scale. This scale measures the energy released by an earthquake and a magnitude of 5.0 or higher is considered a moderate earthquake.

How are buildings in Taiwan designed to withstand earthquakes?

Taiwan has strict building codes and regulations in place to ensure that structures are built to withstand earthquakes. Buildings are designed with flexible and reinforced structures, as well as shock-absorbing materials, to help them withstand the shaking caused by earthquakes.

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