TAIPEI — Taiwan experienced a moderate earthquake Tuesday when a 5.6 magnitude tremor hit waters off the northeastern Yilan County coastline, according to the island’s weather administration.
Buildings in Taiwan’s capital city swayed momentarily during the seismic event. Weather officials reported the earthquake originated approximately 42 miles underground.
Fire department officials determined the earthquake’s center point was located about 10.5 miles offshore from Yilan County’s main government offices.
The island nation sits at the meeting point of major tectonic plates, making earthquakes a common occurrence in the region.
Taiwan has experienced devastating seismic activity in recent decades, including a 2016 earthquake in the southern region that claimed over 100 lives and a catastrophic 7.3 magnitude quake in 1999 that resulted in more than 2,000 deaths.
