Taiwan: Magnitude-4.9 offshore earthquake strikes off of Hualien at 1329 Dec. 10; no tsunami warning issued

Event

A magnitude-4.9 offshore earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea, east of Taiwan, at around 1329 CST Dec. 10. The epicenter was approximately 65 km (40 miles) south of Hualien. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 35 km (22 miles), and probably caused moderate-to-strong shaking in coastal areas of eastern Taiwan; moderate and weak shaking reportedly occurred in other areas of the island. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties, but some damage is possible in eastern coastal counties. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event did not prompt any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in areas where shaking occurred to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if authorities do not find any damage. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.