- A 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit southern Taiwan early on January 21, 2025.
- 27 people were injured, including six people trapped in a collapsed building.
- Several buildings and roads in Chiayi and Tainan were damaged.
- No fatalities have been reported, and rescue operations continue.
- The earthquake is the latest in a series of recent seismic activities in Taiwan.
In the early hours of Tuesday, January 21, 2025, a powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit southern Taiwan, injuring 27 people. The tremor struck at 12:17 a.m., with its epicenter located 38 kilometers southeast of Chiayi County Hall, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Although this earthquake was one of the strongest in recent months, it did not cause any fatalities. However, it left significant damage, especially in the cities of Chiayi and Tainan, affecting the local communities and infrastructure.
Details of the Earthquake
According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the earthquake was measured at magnitude 6.4, with the U.S. Geological Survey reporting a slightly weaker magnitude of 6. The epicenter was located in the vicinity of Chiayi, a region known for its proximity to several fault lines. The shaking was felt throughout southern Taiwan, including in major urban centers like Tainan and Chiayi. Taiwan lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region where seismic activity is frequent due to tectonic plate movements.
The earthquake left significant damage in its wake, particularly in the southern parts of the island. While most of the injuries were reported to be minor, the earthquake caused considerable disruption. Emergency response teams were quickly deployed to assess and mitigate the damage.
Injuries and Rescue Efforts
Taiwan’s Fire Department confirmed that 27 individuals were hospitalized with minor injuries following the earthquake. Among them were six people, including a one-month-old baby, who had been rescued from a collapsed house in the Nanxi district of Tainan. Rescue teams worked swiftly, pulling survivors from the rubble as they searched for any other trapped victims. Tainan’s rescue operations were complicated by the damage to infrastructure, including the Zhuwei bridge on a provincial highway, which was also reported to have sustained damage.
The earthquake also trapped several individuals in elevators, with two people rescued from elevators in Tainan and one person in Chiayi city. Thankfully, none of the trapped individuals sustained injuries.
In Chiayi, a fire broke out at a printing factory as a result of the earthquake, but it was quickly extinguished with no injuries reported. However, the factory suffered some structural damage.
Earthquake’s Impact and Ongoing Challenges
The earthquake caused widespread damage, including the collapse of buildings in certain districts. Key infrastructure like bridges and roads also suffered, with the Zhuwei Bridge in Tainan notably affected. Local authorities now face the difficult task of evaluating its structural integrity for future use.
Taiwan’s emergency teams prioritized maintaining critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools, and communication lines. Thankfully, key sites like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) reported no significant damage. All of its facilities in southern Taiwan continued operating normally after the earthquake.
Aftershocks followed the main tremor, causing additional distress. A 5.1-magnitude aftershock hit near Yujing in Tainan, shaking the region just after midnight. Residents who had already experienced the initial quake now faced renewed anxiety as the tremors spread throughout the southern parts of the island.
The Central Weather Administration issued warnings for further aftershocks, urging caution as authorities evaluated the damage. Seismologists expect the tremors to persist in the coming days, complicating recovery efforts and adding to the challenges faced by residents and emergency teams.
Historical Context of Seismic Activity
Taiwan’s location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” means that earthquakes are a recurring threat. The island is positioned between the Philippine Sea and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active regions in the world.
This most recent earthquake comes less than a year after a deadly magnitude 7.4 quake struck the eastern coastal region of Hualien. That devastating earthquake, which occurred in April 2024, killed at least 13 people and left over 1,000 injured. Aftershocks from that event continued for days, complicating recovery efforts.
Taiwan’s government has invested heavily in seismic preparedness and infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of earthquakes. Still, the island’s vulnerability to such natural disasters remains a challenge.
Damage, Recovery, and Ongoing Efforts
Right now, the focus is on helping the injured and assessing the full scope of the damage. Emergency teams are searching affected areas to ensure no one is trapped under debris. The government has also begun repairing infrastructure, especially in Tainan and Chiayi, where damage was most severe.
Although Taiwan’s infrastructure can handle such tremors, recent earthquakes highlight the need for constant preparedness. With aftershocks still shaking the region, authorities are working around the clock to restore normalcy and provide relief to those impacted by the disaster.
In summary, the 6.4-magnitude earthquake on January 21, 2025, caused moderate damage and minor injuries in Tainan and Chiayi. Thankfully, no fatalities occurred, and the quick response helped prevent worse outcomes. Still, the event serves as a reminder of Taiwan’s vulnerability to seismic activity.