Recent earthquakes in Taiwan
Taiwan sits where the Philippine Sea Plate collides with the Eurasian Plate, subducting along the Ryukyu Trench to the northeast and colliding to build the island's mountains. This double boundary makes Taiwan intensely active. The 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake (M7.7) ruptured the Chelungpu Fault and was the island's most destructive modern event. In the past 24 hours, Taiwan has recorded no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.3 | Sep 8, 22:32 UTC | 51 km | 57 km W of Yonakuni, Japan |
| M4.5 | Sep 6, 16:37 UTC | 33 km | 98 km ENE of Donggang, Taiwan |
Notable recent activity
An M4.5 earthquake struck 98 km ENE of Donggang, Taiwan at 16:37 UTC on Sep 6 at a depth of 33 km.
An M4.3 earthquake struck 57 km W of Yonakuni, Japan at 22:32 UTC on Sep 8 at a depth of 51 km.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Taiwan have so many earthquakes?
Taiwan is being built by the collision of the Philippine Sea and Eurasian plates. The two converge rapidly, subducting offshore and thrusting up the island's mountains, which produces thousands of earthquakes a year.
How often do damaging earthquakes hit Taiwan?
Taiwan records tens of thousands of earthquakes annually, most too small to feel, with a damaging magnitude 6 or greater event roughly every year or two. Strong building codes have reduced casualties from many of them.
What was the biggest earthquake in Taiwan?
The September 21, 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake, magnitude 7.7, killed about 2,400 people and remains Taiwan's most destructive modern earthquake. The April 3, 2024 Hualien earthquake (M7.4) was the strongest since, causing far fewer deaths thanks to preparedness.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.