TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部) announced three fault zones on Tuesday (Dec. 17) across central, southern, and eastern Taiwan. This announcement aims to inform the public about areas susceptible to fault movements and surface ruptures. The designated zones include the Kouhsiao Fault (口宵里斷層) in Tainan City (台南市), the Lichi Fault (利吉斷層) in Taitung County (台東縣), and the Chushang Fault (初鄉斷層) in Nantou County (南投縣),
The Kouhsiao Fault spans 18 kilometers through the Nanxi, Yujing, and Zuozhen districts, covering 5.5 square kilometers. The Lichi Fault extends 15.6 kilometers across Luye, Beinan, Yanping townships, and Taitung City, with an area of 4.8 square kilometers. The Chushang Fault runs 19.8 kilometers through Zhongliao, Jiji, Lugu, and Zhushan townships, encompassing 6 square kilometers.
The Geological Survey and Mining Management Agency (GSMMA, 地質調查及礦業管理中心) defines active faults as those active within the past 100,000 years and likely to move again, with lengths exceeding 5 kilometers. Delineating geologically sensitive areas allows developers to conduct site surveys and safety assessments before land development. This proactive approach aims to enhance land use safety and reduce potential future disasters.
While the Geological Act (地質法) does not restrict development, interested individuals can access detailed documents on the ministry's website. These documents provide information about the topography, strata, and fault properties within the sensitive areas.
