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Earthquakes in Nantou 1999, Taiwan

Earthquakes in Taiwan

In Taiwan there are very strong earthquakes with far-reaching consequences. Earthquakes with a magnitude of over 8.0 destroy numerous houses within a radius of several hundred kilometers and are causing great damage and devastation. Due to the special tectonic situation of the country, there are more earthquakes than average.

Since 1950 more than 2700 people died by direct consequences of earthquakes. 13 earthquakes also caused a subsequent tsunami, which claimed further lifes and damages.

Other natural hazards in Taiwan:
› Tsunamis
› Typhoons
› The most severe natural disasters worldwide


Back to overview: Taiwan

Most recent events

This list includes the strongest earthquakes recorded in or around Taiwan by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the past 14 days. Whether an event is listed here depends largely on its magnitude, but also on its distance from inhabited areas. All data refer to the local time. This page is updated daily at 11am UTC.

  • May 9, 3:45 pm
    Magnitude 5.0: 72 km southwest of Yonakuni, Japan at a depth of 24.26 km.
  • May 9, 2:23 pm
    Magnitude 6.3: 70 km southwest of Yonakuni, Japan at a depth of 27.02 km.
  • May 9, 11:35 pm
    Magnitude 4.4: 44 km east of Yilan at a depth of 113.31 km.
  • May 9, 10:09 pm
    Magnitude 4.6: 66 km southwest of Yonakuni, Japan at a depth of 35.25 km.
  • May 8, 7:23 am
    Magnitude 4.1: 61 km south of Hualien City at a depth of 25.93 km.
  • May 7, 7:53 pm
    Magnitude 5.5: 136 km west-northwest of Naha, Japan at a depth of 10 km.
  • May 6, 9:21 pm
    Magnitude 5.4: 134 km west-northwest of Naha, Japan at a depth of 10 km.
  • May 3, 2:43 am
    Magnitude 4.5: 9 km northeast of Hualien City at a depth of 29.92 km.
  • May 14, 6:05 pm
    Magnitude 4.5: 71 km southwest of Yonakuni, Japan at a depth of 23.81 km.
  • May 13, 7:16 am
    Magnitude 4.5: 113 km west of Basco, Philippines at a depth of 10 km.

Earthquakes in Taiwan since 1950

Earthquakes in Nantou 1999, TaiwanThe strongest earthquake in Taiwan happened on 03/12/1966 in the region Taiwan with a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale. The shifting of tectonic plates in a depth of 21 km resulted in 7 deaths. The earthquake also triggered a tsunami with further victims and destructions.
DateRegionDepthMagnitudeDeathsTotal damage
08/07/2019Taipei10 km5.91
04/18/2019Hualien20 km6.11
02/06/2018Hualien17 km6.417
02/05/2016Tainan6 km6.4117
04/20/2015Taipei38 km6.41
06/02/2013Jenai3 km6.34
03/27/2013Nantou County, Taipei19 km6.01
02/26/2012Pingtung 5.90
03/04/2010Kao-Hsiung51 km6.30
12/19/2009Hualien17 km6.40
12/26/2006Pingtung21 km7.02
04/01/2006T'ait-Tung19 km6.20
10/15/2004T'ao-Yuan50 km6.60
05/01/2004Hualien (Taroko Gorge National Park)13 km5.22
12/10/2003T'ai-Tung, Kao-Hsiun11 km6.80
03/31/2002Taipei50 km7.15
12/18/2001Taiwan58 km6.80
06/10/2000Nan-Tou29 km6.42
05/17/2000Tai-Chung County48 km5.43
10/22/1999Chia-I58 km5.91
09/25/1999Central48 km6.50
09/20/1999Nantou, Taichung, Taizhong18 km7.72297
07/17/1998Chia-I, Tainan, Hualien, Kao-Hsiung14 km5.75
05/03/1998Taiwan21 km7.50
09/05/1996Taiwan Region6 km6.80
06/05/1994Chi-Lung, I-Lan, Taipei, Nan-Ao30 km6.41
05/24/1994Taiwan42 km6.50
12/13/1990Hua-Lien17 km6.30
12/13/1990Hualien, Taipei48 km6.22
07/20/1988Hualien, Su-Hua36 km5.71
11/14/1986Taipei, Hualien10 km7.815
05/20/1986Hualien46 km6.41
12/23/1978Pintung12 km7.02
07/23/1978Taiwan36 km7.40
04/24/1972Hualien21 km6.94
01/25/1972Taiwan23 km7.51
01/25/1972Taiwan23 km7.70
01/04/1972Taiwan54 km7.60
10/25/1967Hualien22 km7.02
03/12/1966Taiwan21 km8.07
01/18/1964Tainan41 km7.0107
02/13/1963Taipei, Hsinch4 km7.315
08/15/1959Taiwan3 km7.016
04/26/1959Taipei38 km7.52
02/23/1957Hualien, Taipei14 km7.211
11/24/1951Taiwan13 km7.517
10/22/1951Taiwan1 km7.368


These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Several data have been summarized and translated.
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