5.6-magnitude Earthquake Hits Taiwan

May 12, Thursday, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit the capital city of Taiwan, Taipei.

According to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck 14 km northeast of the coastal town of Su-ao, Channel News Asia reports. The earthquake rocked high-rise blocks and some local news publication reports that some people were trapped and there was power shortage.

USGS assesed that the quake occured on Thursday was a 5.9-magnitude. This is not the first quake occur in the country this year. In February, a 6.4-magnitude quake hits the country, thus making a large apartment in southern Taiwan topple. There were more than 100 people reportedly died after the tragedy.

BNO News reports that the first earthquake happened at 11:17 a.m., and it was centered about 19 kilometers (11 mi) east-southeast of Yilan County, or 60 kilometers (37 mi) southeast of Taipei.

Central Weather Bureau said that people in Yilan country in Northeastern Taiwan experienced the strongest shaking. In Hualien County, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Taipei, and other areas experienced moderate shaking. At 12:29 p.m. a second earthquake struck the same region with a 5.5 magnitude.

As of writing, there is no tsunamis that has been issued. The worst quake disaster occurred in September 1999-a 7.6-magnitude earthquake killed 2,400 people.