A powerful magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck just off the northeast coast of Taiwan on Saturday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, sending tremors across the island nation.
The earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth, which typically amplifies ground shaking and potential damage. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration issued alerts as buildings swayed in the capital Taipei and other major cities.
Taiwan sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a horseshoe-shaped zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity that encircles the Pacific Ocean. The island experiences frequent earthquakes due to the collision of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
Emergency services were immediately deployed to assess potential damage and casualties. Taiwan has strict building codes designed to withstand seismic activity, having learned lessons from devastating earthquakes in the past.
In April 2024, Taiwan was struck by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that killed over 13 people and caused significant damage, particularly in the eastern city of Hualien. That quake was the strongest to hit the island in 25 years.
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