Wednesday witnessed Taiwan being jolted by its most formidable earthquake in twenty-five years. The quake claimed the lives of at least nine individuals, left hundreds wounded, inflicted damage upon buildings and highways, and left many quarry workers stranded.
Despite Taiwan’s familiarity with potent earthquakes, experts assert that the impact on the island’s 23 million residents has been relatively limited, thanks to its exceptional earthquake readiness. Let’s delve deeper into Taiwan’s seismic history:
What’s behind the frequency of earthquakes?
Taiwan is situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean, where a majority of the world’s earthquakes occur. The region is particularly susceptible to tremors due to the accumulated tension from the interactions of two tectonic plates: the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can result in sudden seismic releases.
The rugged terrain of the region can exacerbate ground shaking, leading to landslides. Several such occurrences took place on Taiwan’s eastern coast near the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake, near eastern Hualien County, as falling debris struck tunnels and highways, resulting in crushed vehicles and multiple fatalities.
How prepared is Taiwan to confront earthquakes?
Wednesday’s earthquake measured 7.2 according to Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency, while the U.S. Geological Survey estimated it at 7.4. Although it caused damage to several buildings in Hualien, it resulted in only minor losses in the capital Taipei, despite being strongly felt there.
The earthquake struck during the morning rush hour but only marginally disrupted the regular commute. Within minutes, parents were once again escorting their children to school, and workers were driving to their offices.
“Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness ranks among the most advanced globally,” stated Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology. “The island has implemented stringent building codes, established a world-class seismological network, and conducted widespread public education campaigns on earthquake safety.”
The government consistently revises the earthquake resistance standards for new and existing buildings—which may elevate construction costs—and provides subsidies to residents who undertake evaluations of their buildings’ quake resistance.
Following a 2016 quake in Tainan, on the island’s southwestern coast, where a 17-story high-rise apartment building collapsed, claiming dozens of lives, five individuals involved in its construction were found guilty of negligence and received prison sentences. Taiwan also promotes earthquake drills in schools and workplaces, while public media and mobile phones regularly disseminate earthquake alerts and safety instructions.
“These measures have significantly bolstered Taiwan’s resilience to earthquakes, mitigating the potential for catastrophic damage and loss of life,” Gao added.
The 1999 quake served as a wake-up call
Since 1980, Taiwan and its adjacent waters have experienced approximately 2,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher, along with over 100 earthquakes registering above 5.5 on the Richter scale, according to the USGS.
The island’s most devastating quake in recent memory occurred on September 21, 1999, with a magnitude of 7.7. It resulted in 2,400 fatalities, around 100,000 injuries, and the destruction of thousands of buildings. This event prompted significant administrative reforms aimed at enhancing emergency response and disaster mitigation, as noted by Daniel Aldrich, professor of political science and public policy at Northeastern University.
“Observers heavily criticized Taiwan’s response to the September 21, 1999 earthquake, citing delayed arrival of emergency medical response teams, inadequate rescuer training, and poor coordination between government agencies,” he wrote in an email. Consequently, the government enacted the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act and established two national centers to oversee earthquake coordination and training.
