TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The former head of the Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) seismological center remarked on Thursday (Nov. 7) that Taiwan has experienced 35 earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or greater in 2024, the highest number since 2011, marking the "era of frequent earthquakes." A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Hualien (花蓮) early Thursday, marking the latest in a series of seismic activities that have rocked Taiwan this year.
The CWA also acknowledged the increase in earthquakes of magnitude 5 or higher, attributing the rise to aftershocks from the April 3 event, which has already resulted in over 1,700 aftershocks. Former CWA director Kuo Kai-wen (郭鎧紋) noted the energy released by such quakes is approximately equivalent to 0.088 atomic bombs. The recent Hualien quake's epicenter lies south of the April 3 earthquake area, suggesting a concentration of seismic activity in the eastern region.
Despite recent tremors in Tainan's Houbi District (後壁), Kuo highlighted the situation in Chiayi (嘉義) worth focusing more on. There have been 70 earthquakes this year, five times the annual average of 13.84. However, Kuo expected the situation to ease next year.
