Three Early Morning Earthquakes Near Hualien, Taiwan, Largest Magnitude 5.3

In the early morning hours to the late morning of May 30th, there were three consecutive earthquakes off the coast of Hualien, Taiwan. Among them, two earthquakes measured at a magnitude of 5.3 and 5.1, respectively, with tremors felt across the island.

According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, at 9:11 a.m. on the 30th, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of Hualien (latitude 24.19 degrees north, longitude 121.68 degrees east), with a depth of 17.9 kilometers. The bureau issued a “disaster prevention alert” for Hualien and Yilan.

The maximum intensity recorded was level 4, affecting areas such as Hualien, Nantou, and Taichung. Changhua and Yilan experienced level 3 intensity, while areas such as Taoyuan, Chiayi, Miaoli, Hsinchu County, New Taipei, and Yunlin felt a level 2 intensity. Locations with a level 1 intensity included Hsinchu City, Taipei, Taitung, and Tainan.

At 7:54 a.m. on the 30th, an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale hit 12.7 kilometers east of the Hualien County Government and off the eastern coast of Taiwan, with a depth of 17.1 kilometers.

The maximum intensity reached level 4 in Hualien, while Nantou and Yilan experienced level 3 intensity. Taichung, Changhua, Taitung, and Yunlin registered a level 2 intensity. Areas such as Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, New Taipei, Chiayi, Tainan, and Kaohsiung felt a level 1 intensity.

In the early morning of the 30th at 5:42 a.m., a 4.0 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of Hualien, with a depth of 8.3 kilometers.

Hualien experienced the highest intensity at level 4, while Yilan and Nantou felt a maximum intensity of level 2. Taichung recorded a maximum intensity of level 1.