Taiwan’s eastern Hualien County was rocked by more than 200 aftershocks late on Monday and early on Tuesday, reports “Reuters”.
Buildings in large parts of northern, eastern and western Taiwan, including the capital Taipei, were affected overnight, but no serious damage or casualties reported. The tremors reported were very shallow.
Mostly rural and sparsely populated Hualien was affected by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on April 3 that killed at least 17 people and has since had more than 1,000 aftershocks.
Taiwan’s Central Meteorological Administration said the series of earthquakes – which it said were more than 200 – were aftershocks from the great April 3 earthquake.
Seismological center director Wu Chien-fu told reporters that the aftershocks were a “concentrated release of energy” and warned that there might be more of them, though not as strong.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen urged people to avoid the mountains and remain alert.
The Hualien Fire Department said two buildings, which are now uninhabitable after being damaged on April 3, have taken additional damage and are tilted.
The world’s largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), whose factories are on the island’s west coast, said that some personnel in a small number of factories were evacuatedbut facilities and safety systems are functioning normally and all personnel are safe.
“At this time, we do not expect any impact on operations,” said in an email.
5.9 earthquake hits Japan
There were no reports of casualties or damage. No tsunami threat has been declared
Tags: earthquakes rocked Taiwan overnight
