TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Chiayi (嘉義) at 12:17 a.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 21), shaking Taiwan and causing multiple aftershocks. The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) reported that aftershocks have predominantly centered in Tainan (台南), with the potential for quakes above magnitude 5 in the next three days.
The earthquake report from the CWA's Seismological Center (地震測報中心) detailed that the quake originated at a depth of 9.7 kilometers, with Chiayi's Dapu (大埔) experiencing the strongest tremors at level 6. The region had experienced ten significant aftershocks above magnitude 4 by 1:46 a.m., including a 5.0 in Nansi (楠西) and a 5.2 in Nanhu (南化). Over 30 aftershocks, mostly around 10 kilometers deep, have been recorded.
The center explained that the quake struck near the Chiayi-Tainan border, with the main shock in Dapu and aftershocks within a 10-kilometer radius. Former Seismological Center Director Kuo Kai-wen (郭鎧紋) noted similarities between this quake and the 1964 Baihe (白河) earthquake, both occurring on the same geological structure.
Kuo highlighted that Taiwan has a 1% daily probability of experiencing a magnitude 6 or higher earthquake, and the country had surpassed 150 days without such an event. Residents should remain vigilant for potential larger quakes in the coming month.
