HUALIEN (TVBS News) — Taiwan's recent spate of earthquakes has drawn global attention, with the island nation's seismic activity appearing as a towering "skyscraper" on the "Earthquake 3D Live" global map, a stark contrast to other countries.
According to the Central Weather Administration (CWA), since the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Hualien on April 3, there have been 1,162 aftershocks as of 11:05 a.m. Tuesday (April 23). Among these, four were above magnitude 6, and 60 ranged from magnitude 5 to 6.
The CWA noted that over 200 earthquakes occurred from Monday evening to Tuesday morning, primarily concentrated north of the Hualien epicenter. As the energy there has been released, pressure has shifted southward, a stress adjustment that could lead to aftershocks for the next six months to a year.
The frequency of earthquakes in Taiwan since April is visible on the "Earthquake 3D Live" site, with the number of quakes stacking up like a "skyscraper," sparking heated discussion.
Seismological Center Director Wu Chien-fu said that after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, energy won't be released in a short time.
Aftershocks could occur for six months to a year, but based on past experiences, they should gradually decrease in size. However, as seen in the past two days, he did not rule out the possibility of larger aftershocks.
