Introduction
- On Wednesday (03 April), the Central Weather Administration (CWA) of Taiwan reported a magnitude 7.2 earthquake at 0758 hours (local time), located 25 kilometres south-southeast of Hualien County Hall. This seismic event marked the most powerful tremor to impact the island in at least 25 years.
- However, there were variations in reported magnitudes among different seismological agencies. While the CWA Taiwan initially reported the earthquake as a magnitude 7.5, it later revised it down to 7.2.
- Conversely, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) recorded a magnitude of 7.5 but later adjusted it to 7.7.
- Similarly, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake magnitude as 7.4.
| Agency | Earthquake Magnitude | Depth (in kilometers) |
| CWA | 7.2 | 15.5 |
| JMA | 7.7 | 23 |
| USGS | 7.4 | 34.8 |
Areas Impacted
Major Impact: Hualien City, Yilan (Guishan) Island, Taoyuan, Keelung, and Taipei. Minor Impact:
- Taiwan: Tremors felt across Yilan County, Miaoli County, Taipei City, Hsinchu County, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Taichung City, Changhua County, and Nantou County.
- Japan: Smaller tsunami waves were measured in off the coast of Yonaguni Island, Ishigaki and Miyako islands.
- Philippines: Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Isabela (until tsunami alert is lifted).
Areas under Warning
In the aftermath of the earthquake, authorities in Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines swiftly responded by issuing tsunami warnings and evacuation advisories for residents in coastal regions.
| Agency | Country | Areas under warning |
| CWA | Taiwan | Hualien city, Yilan County, Miaoli County. |
Tsunami warning (until tsunami warning was lifted):
| Agency | Country | Areas under warning |
| JMA | Japan | Okinawa Island, Miyakojima Island, Yaeyama Island. |
| Phivolcs | Philippines | Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental. |
Current updates
- Casualties: Seven fatalities have been reported, with over 700 individuals injured in Taiwan.
- Damage: Numerous buildings collapsed in Hualien County, trapping people underneath debris. Part of the ceiling in Taoyuan International Airport fell. Landslides and rockfalls caused major highway and tunnel closures. Over 91,000 households experienced power outages.
- Tsunami Warnings: Warnings were issued for Taiwan, southern Japan, and the Philippines, but waves observed were less than half a meter. Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines have all canceled tsunami warnings issued after the quake hit.
- Transport Disruption: Taiwan temporarily suspended train services across the island nation, including the subway service in Taipei. Flights were suspended temporarily in Naha Airport, Japan.
- Aftershocks: The earthquake was followed by several strong aftershocks, with tremors felt across the island. According to the CWA, an intensity level of 5+ was reported in Yilan County in the northeast and in Miaoli County in the north. Additionally, an intensity level of 5- was reported in Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, and Hsinchu County in the north, as well as in Taichung City, Changhua County, and Nantou County in central Taiwan. The complete list can be availed via https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/E/index.html.
Recommendations for Organisations:
- Develop procedures for assessing and documenting damage to facilities and assets.
- Gradual and safe restoration of essential services e.g., water, power, gas (if applicable), sewage treatment, waste disposal etc.
- Assessment and repair of fire protection systems.
- Contract procedures for suppliers (to find out availability of supplies and services after a major event).
- Establish communication procedures with internal stakeholders and customers to inform them of business-critical delays and capacity reduction.
- Easy access to up-to-date contracts to facilitate ease of procurement and repairs.
- Temporary shelter via partner hotels, emergency transport to shelters outside of town.
- Access to emergency cash flow and emergency budgets.
- Physical Security of critical sites and assets if applicable.
Do’s and Don’ts
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture or against an interior wall, and hold on until the shaking stops to protect yourself from falling debris. | Avoid panicking or making sudden movements during the earthquake. |
| If you’re indoors, stay indoors. Move away from windows, glass doors, and exterior walls to avoid injury from shattering glass or collapsing structures. | Do not stand in a doorway. They are not structurally stronger than other parts of the house and cannot shield you from falling or flying objects. |
| After the tremors subside exit your home or office building and move to open fields. | Avoid running outside or to other rooms. The area near exterior walls is the most hazardous during an earthquake, with windows, facades, and architectural details prone to collapse. |
| If outdoors, stay where you are and move away from buildings, trees, and utility wires. | Avoid using elevators during or immediately after an earthquake, as they may become stuck or malfunction. Use the stairs instead. |
| If in a moving vehicle, stop as safely and quickly as possible, avoiding stopping near buildings or underpasses. Proceed cautiously once the tremors stop. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that may have been damaged. | Do not turn on electric switches as there may be gas leaks or short-circuits. Use a torch instead. |
| After tremors subside, check for any hazards, such as gas leaks, electrical hazards, or structural damage. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the gas valve and leave the building immediately. | Avoid using candles, matches, or any other open flames. Extinguish all fires immediately. |
| Follow your workplace emergency plan and evacuation procedures. Know the location of emergency supplies and evacuation routes. | If you evacuate a building during an earthquake, don’t return until it has been declared safe by authorities. Structural damage may not be immediately apparent, and aftershocks could pose further risks. |
| If trapped under debris, cover your mouth, tap on a pipe or wall, and avoid unnecessary movements. |
After Earthquake:
- Keep drinking water, food, and first-aid equipment in an accessible place. This ensures you have essential supplies in case of an emergency.
- Close the valve of the kitchen gas stove if it’s on. Avoid using open flames and be cautious of potential gas leaks. Do not operate electrical switches or appliances if gas leaks are suspected to prevent fire hazards.
- Inspect water pipes, electrical panels, and fittings for damage. If any damage is found, shut off the main valves and avoid touching exposed electrical wires to prevent further accidents.
- In case of a fire, try to put it out with the help of a fire extinguisher and inform the fire brigade on phone number 119.
- Be prepared for aftershocks, as these may occur following the main earthquake. Stay alert and ready to take appropriate actions if further shaking occurs.
- Open doors and cupboards carefully, as objects may have shifted during the earthquake and could fall when disturbed. Exercise caution when moving around to avoid injury from falling debris.
- Do not re-enter badly damaged buildings and don’t go near damaged structures.
- Be prepared for aftershocks, as these may occur following the main earthquake. Stay alert and ready to take appropriate actions if further shaking occurs.
- Refrain from spreading or believing rumours. Stick to official sources of information to stay informed about the situation and any aftershock warnings.
Important contact details:
- Real-time updates on earthquakes and aftershocks can be monitored via the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) website at https://www.cwb.gov.tw/V8/E/E/index.html.
- For emergency services in Taiwan:
- Police: 110
- Ambulance services and Fire: 119
- Central Weather Bureau: +886-2-23491168 (earthquake consulting hot line)
- The India Taipei Association has set up an emergency helpline for all Indian nationals residing in Taiwan. The helpline can be reached at:
- mobile: 0905247906
- o Email: ad.ita@mea.gov.in
- Advised to follow regional earthquake monitoring agencies at:
- CWA: https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/E/index.html
- CMA Seismological Center: https://scweb.cwa.gov.tw/en-us/earthquake/data/
- USGS: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/
- JMA, Japan: https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html
- Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs): https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/
- Hong Kong Observatory: https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/index.html.
- Follow the earthquake information provided on the website of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) at https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/earthquake/earthquake-information3.
