Thursday, January 6, 2011

Earthquakes in Taiwan

The area of Taiwan that receives the most tremors is the city and surrounding area of Hualien- on the eastern coast of the island. This is because Hualien is the closest to the subduction zone (meaning between the two plates). In addition the earthquake activity in Hualien, the entire island of Taiwan is occupied by numerous fault lines, where earthquakes usually happen.

Taiwan has recorded 19 quakes measuring over 7 on the Richter scale since 1906. The most recent earthquake that hit Taiwan was late in the evening on September 20th, 1999, measuring 7.4 on the scale.The devastating earthquakes which struck central Taiwan on September 20 and the series of more than 9,000 aftershocks which have followed the first event have resulted in official estimates of 2,161 deaths, 8,736 injuries with approximately 150 people still listed as missing.


http://ted.coe.wayne.edu/sse/wq/Taiwan/geography.htm

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