
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 2,700 people died by the direct consequences of earthquakes. There were 13 earthquakes that also caused a subsequent tsunami, which claimed further lives, and cause additional damage.
Other natural hazards in Taiwan:
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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 10:00 UTC.
- May 25, 9:48 pmMagnitude 5.2: 72 km north of Basco, Philippines at a depth of ten km.
Earthquakes in Taiwan since 1950

Date | Region | Depth | Magnitude | Deaths | Total damage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
09/18/2022 | Hualien | 10 km | 6.9 | 1 | |
03/22/2022 | Hualien, T'ait-Tung | 24 km | 6.7 | 0 | |
08/07/2019 | Taipei | 10 km | 5.9 | 1 | |
04/18/2019 | Hualien | 20 km | 6.1 | 1 | |
02/06/2018 | Hualien | 17 km | 6.4 | 17 | |
02/05/2016 | Tainan | 6 km | 6.4 | 117 | |
04/20/2015 | Taipei | 38 km | 6.4 | 1 | |
06/02/2013 | Jenai | 3 km | 6.3 | 4 | |
03/27/2013 | Nantou County, Taipei | 19 km | 6.0 | 1 | |
02/26/2012 | Pingtung | 5.9 | 0 | ||
03/04/2010 | Kao-Hsiung | 51 km | 6.3 | 0 | |
12/19/2009 | Hualien | 17 km | 6.4 | 0 | |
12/26/2006 | Pingtung | 21 km | 7.0 | 2 | |
04/01/2006 | T'ait-Tung | 19 km | 6.2 | 0 | |
10/15/2004 | T'ao-Yuan | 50 km | 6.6 | 0 | |
05/01/2004 | Hualien (Taroko Gorge National Park) | 13 km | 5.2 | 2 | |
12/10/2003 | T'ai-Tung, Kao-Hsiun | 11 km | 6.8 | 0 | |
03/31/2002 | Taipei | 50 km | 7.1 | 5 | |
12/18/2001 | Taiwan | 58 km | 6.8 | 0 | |
06/10/2000 | Nan-Tou | 29 km | 6.4 | 2 | |
05/17/2000 | Tai-Chung County | 48 km | 5.4 | 3 | |
10/22/1999 | Chia-I | 58 km | 5.9 | 1 | |
09/25/1999 | Central | 48 km | 6.5 | 0 | |
09/20/1999 | Nantou, Taichung, Taizhong | 18 km | 7.7 | 2297 | |
07/17/1998 | Chia-I, Tainan, Hualien, Kao-Hsiung | 14 km | 5.7 | 5 | |
05/03/1998 | Taiwan | 21 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
09/05/1996 | Taiwan Region | 6 km | 6.8 | 0 | |
06/05/1994 | Chi-Lung, I-Lan, Taipei, Nan-Ao | 30 km | 6.4 | 1 | |
05/24/1994 | Taiwan | 42 km | 6.5 | 0 | |
12/13/1990 | Hua-Lien | 17 km | 6.3 | 0 | |
12/13/1990 | Hualien, Taipei | 48 km | 6.2 | 2 | |
07/20/1988 | Hualien, Su-Hua | 36 km | 5.7 | 1 | |
11/14/1986 | Taipei, Hualien | 10 km | 7.8 | 15 | |
05/20/1986 | Hualien | 46 km | 6.4 | 1 | |
12/23/1978 | Pintung | 12 km | 7.0 | 2 | |
07/23/1978 | Taiwan | 36 km | 7.4 | 0 | |
04/24/1972 | Hualien | 21 km | 6.9 | 4 | |
01/25/1972 | Taiwan | 23 km | 7.7 | 0 | |
01/25/1972 | Taiwan | 23 km | 7.5 | 1 | |
01/04/1972 | Taiwan | 54 km | 7.6 | 0 | |
10/25/1967 | Hualien | 22 km | 7.0 | 2 | |
03/12/1966 | Taiwan | 21 km | 8.0 | 7 | |
01/18/1964 | Tainan | 41 km | 7.0 | 107 | |
02/13/1963 | Taipei, Hsinch | 4 km | 7.3 | 15 | |
08/15/1959 | Taiwan | 3 km | 7.0 | 16 | |
04/26/1959 | Taipei | 38 km | 7.5 | 2 | |
02/23/1957 | Hualien, Taipei | 14 km | 7.2 | 11 | |
11/24/1951 | Taiwan | 13 km | 7.5 | 17 | |
10/22/1951 | Taiwan | 1 km | 7.3 | 68 |
These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Data have been summarized and translated.