Taiwan: Magnitude-5.4 offshore earthquake occurs off southeast Taiwan at around 1614 Feb. 4.

Event

A magnitude-5.4 earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea off southeast Taiwan at 1614 Feb. 4. The epicenter was about 126 km (78 miles) east-southeast of Hengchun, Taiwan. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout southeast Taiwan. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. 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 where shaking occurred and re-enter after authorities give the all-clear.