A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 has struck off the coast of Taiwan, sending intense tremors through the capital city of Taipei and prompting a tsunami advisory for parts of southern Japan.
Intense Tremors Felt Across Northern Taiwan
The quake hit at 12.06am local time on December 28, with its epicentre located approximately 40km deep in the ocean. Residents across more than a dozen cities and counties reported strong shaking. The affected areas included:
- Taipei City
- Taoyuan City
- Yilan County
Taiwan's Central Weather Administration recorded the intensity at level 4. This level signifies shaking strong enough to be felt indoors by many people, causing windows and doors to rattle, dishes to clink, and vehicles to rock noticeably.
Transport Disruption and Immediate Response
The seismic event caused immediate disruption to public transport. All Taoyuan Metro train services were halted as a precautionary measure following the quake. This metro line serves the northwestern city of Taoyuan, connects it to Taipei, and provides a vital link to Taoyuan International Airport.
National warning sirens were activated across Taiwan. However, authorities in the country have stated that there is no tsunami risk for Taiwan's coastline following the event.
Japan Issues Tsunami Advisory
In response to the undersea tremor, the Japan Meteorological Agency took action, issuing a tsunami advisory for the Miyakojima and Yaeyama regions of Okinawa Prefecture. The advisory indicates that while no major flooding or significant destruction is anticipated, residents in coastal areas may observe small waves or strong currents in harbours.
Authorities emphasised that huge, destructive waves were not expected from this event.
Assessment and Current Status
Emergency services are assessing the full impact of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Crucially, there have been no initial reports of deaths or injuries linked to the seismic activity.
The situation remains under close monitoring by meteorological agencies in both Taiwan and Japan, with updates expected as more information becomes available.
