TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan recorded 35,516 earthquakes this year, nearing the decade average of 32,664, the Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) reported Tuesday (Dec. 30). Director Wu Chien-fu (吳健富) urged residents to increase earthquake preparedness, highlighting the need for heightened disaster awareness. This year marks a significant close to the decade average for seismic activity.
Six significant earthquakes exceeded magnitude 6 in Taiwan this year, with the strongest, a magnitude 7, striking on Dec. 27 near Yilan. Other notable quakes included a 6.4 magnitude event on Jan. 21 near Chiayi's Dapu and a June 11 quake near Hualien. The Jan. 21 quake led to 208 aftershocks by Dec. 25. Director Wu Chien-fu (吳健富) also noted a sharp rise in felt earthquakes in Chiayi and Tainan, with 62 recorded this year, marking a 6.9-fold increase over the five-year average. He attributed this uptick primarily to the Jan. 21 quake near Dapu.
This year, Taiwan recorded 156 significant earthquakes, aligning with the decade average of 150, according to the CWA. The report includes one magnitude 7 quake and five others between magnitude 6 and 7, consistent with annual averages. The administration committed to advancing meteorological and seismic monitoring technologies. ◼