Taiwan was struck Wednesday by its strongest earthquake in 1 / 4 of a century with highly effective shaking in a area that shares at the very least one key similarity with Los Angeles.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot extra have been injured. The robust shaking broken buildings and highways, and practice service was interrupted.
Similar to Southern California, Taiwan is not any stranger to highly effective earthquakes. However their toll on the high-tech island’s 23 million residents has been comparatively contained due to its wonderful earthquake preparedness, consultants say.
Here’s a nearer take a look at Taiwan’s historical past of earthquakes and a key similarity with Los Angeles.
Similarities between earthquakes in Taiwan and Southern California
Taiwan is without doubt one of the world’s most energetic earthquake zones with about 10 occasions the variety of earthquakes as California.
There’s at the very least one placing similarity between Southern California and the placement of the shaking in jap Taiwan from Wednesday’s highly effective earthquake. The realm is a basin with a big metropolis, and it is what’s beneath that populated space that considerations seismologists.
“It is principally a giant bowl of unfastened sediment that may amplify the shaking, identical to Los Angeles,” stated seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. “That is one thing we fear about for right here.”
The depth of shaking from an earthquake relies upon largely on geology. Earthquakes could produce smaller or bigger seismic waves, relying on completely different soils encountered as these waves journey.
The fault within the Taiwan quake is a thrust fault, that means one aspect of the fault strikes up and over the opposite. Within the ocean, the water is violently displaced, which may end up in a tsunami.
The devastating magnitude 6.7 San Fernando/Sylmar earthquake in 1971 and the lethal magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake in 1994 have been on thrust faults.
“It appears just like the fault truly ran proper via the town,” Jones stated. “The one collapsing buildings I’ve seen are in Hualien. A few of them could be truly in a spot the place the bottom beneath the constructing, one aspect is now up 10 ft in comparison with the opposite aspect. No constructing stands up via that.”
Some buildings leaned at 45-degree angles, their floor flooring crushed. Simply over 93 miles away within the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and faculties evacuated their college students to sports activities fields, equipping them with yellow security helmets. Some youngsters lined themselves with textbooks to protect in opposition to falling objects as aftershocks continued.
The realm close to Hualien is extraordinarily mountainous, so it is also susceptible to landslides. A couple of dozen slides have been reported after the primary quake and aftershocks.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company stated the quake was 7.2 magnitude whereas the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck about 11 miles off of Hualien and was about 21 miles deep.
Hualien was final struck by a lethal quake in 2018 that killed 17 folks and introduced down a historic lodge. Taiwan’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7, inflicting 2,400 deaths, injuring round 100,000 and destroying hundreds of buildings.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot injured when a big earthquake rocked all the island of Taiwan early Wednesday.
Why are there so many earthquakes in Taiwan?
Taiwan lies alongside the Pacific “Ring of Fireplace,” the road of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean the place many of the world’s earthquakes happen.
The realm is especially susceptible to temblors as a result of stress accrued from the interactions of two tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can result in sudden releases within the type of earthquakes.
The area’s mountainous panorama can enlarge the bottom shaking, resulting in landslides. A number of such landslides occurred on Taiwan’s jap coast close to the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake close to jap Hualien County, when falling particles hit tunnels and highways, crushing autos and inflicting a number of deaths.
Sturdy aftershocks are more likely to proceed over a widespread space.
“A 7.4, the fault’s going to be about 100 miles lengthy,” Jones stated. “So, all of Taiwan has this considerably elevated threat. You’ve got in all probability, for a number of hundred miles, round this location an elevated threat.”
Photographs: What to Maintain in Your Catastrophe Emergency Equipment
Is Taiwan nicely ready for earthquakes?
Wednesday’s earthquake measured 7.2, in line with Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company, whereas he U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It broken a number of buildings in Hualien however prompted solely minor losses within the capital Taipei regardless of being strongly felt there.
“They have superb constructing codes (in Taiwan), however when the fault goes via the constructing, there’s not a lot you are able to do,” Jones stated.
The earthquake hit in the midst of the morning rush hour but solely barely derailed the common commute. Simply minutes later, mother and father have been once more strolling their youngsters to high school and staff driving to workplaces.
The federal government frequently revises the extent of quake resistance required of recent and present buildings — which can enhance development prices — and affords subsidies to residents prepared to verify their buildings’ quake resistance.
Following a 2016 quake in Tainan, on the island’s southwestern coast, 5 folks concerned within the development of a 17-story high-rise condo constructing that was the one main construction to have collapsed, killing dozens, have been discovered responsible of negligence and given jail sentences.
“Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness is among the many most superior on the earth,” stated Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri College of Science and Know-how. “The island has applied strict constructing codes, a world-class seismological community, and widespread public schooling campaigns on earthquake security.”
Taiwan is also pushing quake drills at faculties and workplaces whereas public media and cellphones recurrently carry notices about earthquakes and security.
“These measures have considerably enhanced Taiwan’s resilience to earthquakes, serving to to mitigate the potential for catastrophic injury and lack of life,” Gao stated.
Taiwan’s earthquake historical past
Taiwan and its surrounding waters have registered about 2,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher since 1980, and greater than 100 earthquakes with a magnitude above 5.5, in line with the USGS.
The island’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7. It prompted 2,400 deaths, injured round 100,000 and destroyed hundreds of buildings.
The final lethal quake to strike Hualien County occurred in 2018, collapsing a historic lodge and different buildings.
“This excessive degree of seismic exercise will sadly proceed for thousands and thousands of years to come back,” stated Gao. “This underscores the significance of preparedness and resilience within the face of ongoing seismic dangers.”
Taiwan was struck Wednesday by its strongest earthquake in 1 / 4 of a century with highly effective shaking in a area that shares at the very least one key similarity with Los Angeles.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot extra have been injured. The robust shaking broken buildings and highways, and practice service was interrupted.
Similar to Southern California, Taiwan is not any stranger to highly effective earthquakes. However their toll on the high-tech island’s 23 million residents has been comparatively contained due to its wonderful earthquake preparedness, consultants say.
Here’s a nearer take a look at Taiwan’s historical past of earthquakes and a key similarity with Los Angeles.
Similarities between earthquakes in Taiwan and Southern California
Taiwan is without doubt one of the world’s most energetic earthquake zones with about 10 occasions the variety of earthquakes as California.
There’s at the very least one placing similarity between Southern California and the placement of the shaking in jap Taiwan from Wednesday’s highly effective earthquake. The realm is a basin with a big metropolis, and it is what’s beneath that populated space that considerations seismologists.
“It is principally a giant bowl of unfastened sediment that may amplify the shaking, identical to Los Angeles,” stated seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. “That is one thing we fear about for right here.”
The depth of shaking from an earthquake relies upon largely on geology. Earthquakes could produce smaller or bigger seismic waves, relying on completely different soils encountered as these waves journey.
The fault within the Taiwan quake is a thrust fault, that means one aspect of the fault strikes up and over the opposite. Within the ocean, the water is violently displaced, which may end up in a tsunami.
The devastating magnitude 6.7 San Fernando/Sylmar earthquake in 1971 and the lethal magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake in 1994 have been on thrust faults.
“It appears just like the fault truly ran proper via the town,” Jones stated. “The one collapsing buildings I’ve seen are in Hualien. A few of them could be truly in a spot the place the bottom beneath the constructing, one aspect is now up 10 ft in comparison with the opposite aspect. No constructing stands up via that.”
Some buildings leaned at 45-degree angles, their floor flooring crushed. Simply over 93 miles away within the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and faculties evacuated their college students to sports activities fields, equipping them with yellow security helmets. Some youngsters lined themselves with textbooks to protect in opposition to falling objects as aftershocks continued.
The realm close to Hualien is extraordinarily mountainous, so it is also susceptible to landslides. A couple of dozen slides have been reported after the primary quake and aftershocks.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company stated the quake was 7.2 magnitude whereas the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck about 11 miles off of Hualien and was about 21 miles deep.
Hualien was final struck by a lethal quake in 2018 that killed 17 folks and introduced down a historic lodge. Taiwan’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7, inflicting 2,400 deaths, injuring round 100,000 and destroying hundreds of buildings.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot injured when a big earthquake rocked all the island of Taiwan early Wednesday.
Why are there so many earthquakes in Taiwan?
Taiwan lies alongside the Pacific “Ring of Fireplace,” the road of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean the place many of the world’s earthquakes happen.
The realm is especially susceptible to temblors as a result of stress accrued from the interactions of two tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can result in sudden releases within the type of earthquakes.
The area’s mountainous panorama can enlarge the bottom shaking, resulting in landslides. A number of such landslides occurred on Taiwan’s jap coast close to the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake close to jap Hualien County, when falling particles hit tunnels and highways, crushing autos and inflicting a number of deaths.
Sturdy aftershocks are more likely to proceed over a widespread space.
“A 7.4, the fault’s going to be about 100 miles lengthy,” Jones stated. “So, all of Taiwan has this considerably elevated threat. You’ve got in all probability, for a number of hundred miles, round this location an elevated threat.”
Photographs: What to Maintain in Your Catastrophe Emergency Equipment
Is Taiwan nicely ready for earthquakes?
Wednesday’s earthquake measured 7.2, in line with Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company, whereas he U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It broken a number of buildings in Hualien however prompted solely minor losses within the capital Taipei regardless of being strongly felt there.
“They have superb constructing codes (in Taiwan), however when the fault goes via the constructing, there’s not a lot you are able to do,” Jones stated.
The earthquake hit in the midst of the morning rush hour but solely barely derailed the common commute. Simply minutes later, mother and father have been once more strolling their youngsters to high school and staff driving to workplaces.
The federal government frequently revises the extent of quake resistance required of recent and present buildings — which can enhance development prices — and affords subsidies to residents prepared to verify their buildings’ quake resistance.
Following a 2016 quake in Tainan, on the island’s southwestern coast, 5 folks concerned within the development of a 17-story high-rise condo constructing that was the one main construction to have collapsed, killing dozens, have been discovered responsible of negligence and given jail sentences.
“Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness is among the many most superior on the earth,” stated Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri College of Science and Know-how. “The island has applied strict constructing codes, a world-class seismological community, and widespread public schooling campaigns on earthquake security.”
Taiwan is also pushing quake drills at faculties and workplaces whereas public media and cellphones recurrently carry notices about earthquakes and security.
“These measures have considerably enhanced Taiwan’s resilience to earthquakes, serving to to mitigate the potential for catastrophic injury and lack of life,” Gao stated.
Taiwan’s earthquake historical past
Taiwan and its surrounding waters have registered about 2,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher since 1980, and greater than 100 earthquakes with a magnitude above 5.5, in line with the USGS.
The island’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7. It prompted 2,400 deaths, injured round 100,000 and destroyed hundreds of buildings.
The final lethal quake to strike Hualien County occurred in 2018, collapsing a historic lodge and different buildings.
“This excessive degree of seismic exercise will sadly proceed for thousands and thousands of years to come back,” stated Gao. “This underscores the significance of preparedness and resilience within the face of ongoing seismic dangers.”
Taiwan was struck Wednesday by its strongest earthquake in 1 / 4 of a century with highly effective shaking in a area that shares at the very least one key similarity with Los Angeles.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot extra have been injured. The robust shaking broken buildings and highways, and practice service was interrupted.
Similar to Southern California, Taiwan is not any stranger to highly effective earthquakes. However their toll on the high-tech island’s 23 million residents has been comparatively contained due to its wonderful earthquake preparedness, consultants say.
Here’s a nearer take a look at Taiwan’s historical past of earthquakes and a key similarity with Los Angeles.
Similarities between earthquakes in Taiwan and Southern California
Taiwan is without doubt one of the world’s most energetic earthquake zones with about 10 occasions the variety of earthquakes as California.
There’s at the very least one placing similarity between Southern California and the placement of the shaking in jap Taiwan from Wednesday’s highly effective earthquake. The realm is a basin with a big metropolis, and it is what’s beneath that populated space that considerations seismologists.
“It is principally a giant bowl of unfastened sediment that may amplify the shaking, identical to Los Angeles,” stated seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. “That is one thing we fear about for right here.”
The depth of shaking from an earthquake relies upon largely on geology. Earthquakes could produce smaller or bigger seismic waves, relying on completely different soils encountered as these waves journey.
The fault within the Taiwan quake is a thrust fault, that means one aspect of the fault strikes up and over the opposite. Within the ocean, the water is violently displaced, which may end up in a tsunami.
The devastating magnitude 6.7 San Fernando/Sylmar earthquake in 1971 and the lethal magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake in 1994 have been on thrust faults.
“It appears just like the fault truly ran proper via the town,” Jones stated. “The one collapsing buildings I’ve seen are in Hualien. A few of them could be truly in a spot the place the bottom beneath the constructing, one aspect is now up 10 ft in comparison with the opposite aspect. No constructing stands up via that.”
Some buildings leaned at 45-degree angles, their floor flooring crushed. Simply over 93 miles away within the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and faculties evacuated their college students to sports activities fields, equipping them with yellow security helmets. Some youngsters lined themselves with textbooks to protect in opposition to falling objects as aftershocks continued.
The realm close to Hualien is extraordinarily mountainous, so it is also susceptible to landslides. A couple of dozen slides have been reported after the primary quake and aftershocks.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company stated the quake was 7.2 magnitude whereas the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck about 11 miles off of Hualien and was about 21 miles deep.
Hualien was final struck by a lethal quake in 2018 that killed 17 folks and introduced down a historic lodge. Taiwan’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7, inflicting 2,400 deaths, injuring round 100,000 and destroying hundreds of buildings.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot injured when a big earthquake rocked all the island of Taiwan early Wednesday.
Why are there so many earthquakes in Taiwan?
Taiwan lies alongside the Pacific “Ring of Fireplace,” the road of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean the place many of the world’s earthquakes happen.
The realm is especially susceptible to temblors as a result of stress accrued from the interactions of two tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can result in sudden releases within the type of earthquakes.
The area’s mountainous panorama can enlarge the bottom shaking, resulting in landslides. A number of such landslides occurred on Taiwan’s jap coast close to the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake close to jap Hualien County, when falling particles hit tunnels and highways, crushing autos and inflicting a number of deaths.
Sturdy aftershocks are more likely to proceed over a widespread space.
“A 7.4, the fault’s going to be about 100 miles lengthy,” Jones stated. “So, all of Taiwan has this considerably elevated threat. You’ve got in all probability, for a number of hundred miles, round this location an elevated threat.”
Photographs: What to Maintain in Your Catastrophe Emergency Equipment
Is Taiwan nicely ready for earthquakes?
Wednesday’s earthquake measured 7.2, in line with Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company, whereas he U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It broken a number of buildings in Hualien however prompted solely minor losses within the capital Taipei regardless of being strongly felt there.
“They have superb constructing codes (in Taiwan), however when the fault goes via the constructing, there’s not a lot you are able to do,” Jones stated.
The earthquake hit in the midst of the morning rush hour but solely barely derailed the common commute. Simply minutes later, mother and father have been once more strolling their youngsters to high school and staff driving to workplaces.
The federal government frequently revises the extent of quake resistance required of recent and present buildings — which can enhance development prices — and affords subsidies to residents prepared to verify their buildings’ quake resistance.
Following a 2016 quake in Tainan, on the island’s southwestern coast, 5 folks concerned within the development of a 17-story high-rise condo constructing that was the one main construction to have collapsed, killing dozens, have been discovered responsible of negligence and given jail sentences.
“Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness is among the many most superior on the earth,” stated Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri College of Science and Know-how. “The island has applied strict constructing codes, a world-class seismological community, and widespread public schooling campaigns on earthquake security.”
Taiwan is also pushing quake drills at faculties and workplaces whereas public media and cellphones recurrently carry notices about earthquakes and security.
“These measures have considerably enhanced Taiwan’s resilience to earthquakes, serving to to mitigate the potential for catastrophic injury and lack of life,” Gao stated.
Taiwan’s earthquake historical past
Taiwan and its surrounding waters have registered about 2,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher since 1980, and greater than 100 earthquakes with a magnitude above 5.5, in line with the USGS.
The island’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7. It prompted 2,400 deaths, injured round 100,000 and destroyed hundreds of buildings.
The final lethal quake to strike Hualien County occurred in 2018, collapsing a historic lodge and different buildings.
“This excessive degree of seismic exercise will sadly proceed for thousands and thousands of years to come back,” stated Gao. “This underscores the significance of preparedness and resilience within the face of ongoing seismic dangers.”
Taiwan was struck Wednesday by its strongest earthquake in 1 / 4 of a century with highly effective shaking in a area that shares at the very least one key similarity with Los Angeles.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot extra have been injured. The robust shaking broken buildings and highways, and practice service was interrupted.
Similar to Southern California, Taiwan is not any stranger to highly effective earthquakes. However their toll on the high-tech island’s 23 million residents has been comparatively contained due to its wonderful earthquake preparedness, consultants say.
Here’s a nearer take a look at Taiwan’s historical past of earthquakes and a key similarity with Los Angeles.
Similarities between earthquakes in Taiwan and Southern California
Taiwan is without doubt one of the world’s most energetic earthquake zones with about 10 occasions the variety of earthquakes as California.
There’s at the very least one placing similarity between Southern California and the placement of the shaking in jap Taiwan from Wednesday’s highly effective earthquake. The realm is a basin with a big metropolis, and it is what’s beneath that populated space that considerations seismologists.
“It is principally a giant bowl of unfastened sediment that may amplify the shaking, identical to Los Angeles,” stated seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. “That is one thing we fear about for right here.”
The depth of shaking from an earthquake relies upon largely on geology. Earthquakes could produce smaller or bigger seismic waves, relying on completely different soils encountered as these waves journey.
The fault within the Taiwan quake is a thrust fault, that means one aspect of the fault strikes up and over the opposite. Within the ocean, the water is violently displaced, which may end up in a tsunami.
The devastating magnitude 6.7 San Fernando/Sylmar earthquake in 1971 and the lethal magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake in 1994 have been on thrust faults.
“It appears just like the fault truly ran proper via the town,” Jones stated. “The one collapsing buildings I’ve seen are in Hualien. A few of them could be truly in a spot the place the bottom beneath the constructing, one aspect is now up 10 ft in comparison with the opposite aspect. No constructing stands up via that.”
Some buildings leaned at 45-degree angles, their floor flooring crushed. Simply over 93 miles away within the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and faculties evacuated their college students to sports activities fields, equipping them with yellow security helmets. Some youngsters lined themselves with textbooks to protect in opposition to falling objects as aftershocks continued.
The realm close to Hualien is extraordinarily mountainous, so it is also susceptible to landslides. A couple of dozen slides have been reported after the primary quake and aftershocks.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company stated the quake was 7.2 magnitude whereas the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck about 11 miles off of Hualien and was about 21 miles deep.
Hualien was final struck by a lethal quake in 2018 that killed 17 folks and introduced down a historic lodge. Taiwan’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7, inflicting 2,400 deaths, injuring round 100,000 and destroying hundreds of buildings.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot injured when a big earthquake rocked all the island of Taiwan early Wednesday.
Why are there so many earthquakes in Taiwan?
Taiwan lies alongside the Pacific “Ring of Fireplace,” the road of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean the place many of the world’s earthquakes happen.
The realm is especially susceptible to temblors as a result of stress accrued from the interactions of two tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can result in sudden releases within the type of earthquakes.
The area’s mountainous panorama can enlarge the bottom shaking, resulting in landslides. A number of such landslides occurred on Taiwan’s jap coast close to the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake close to jap Hualien County, when falling particles hit tunnels and highways, crushing autos and inflicting a number of deaths.
Sturdy aftershocks are more likely to proceed over a widespread space.
“A 7.4, the fault’s going to be about 100 miles lengthy,” Jones stated. “So, all of Taiwan has this considerably elevated threat. You’ve got in all probability, for a number of hundred miles, round this location an elevated threat.”
Photographs: What to Maintain in Your Catastrophe Emergency Equipment
Is Taiwan nicely ready for earthquakes?
Wednesday’s earthquake measured 7.2, in line with Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company, whereas he U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It broken a number of buildings in Hualien however prompted solely minor losses within the capital Taipei regardless of being strongly felt there.
“They have superb constructing codes (in Taiwan), however when the fault goes via the constructing, there’s not a lot you are able to do,” Jones stated.
The earthquake hit in the midst of the morning rush hour but solely barely derailed the common commute. Simply minutes later, mother and father have been once more strolling their youngsters to high school and staff driving to workplaces.
The federal government frequently revises the extent of quake resistance required of recent and present buildings — which can enhance development prices — and affords subsidies to residents prepared to verify their buildings’ quake resistance.
Following a 2016 quake in Tainan, on the island’s southwestern coast, 5 folks concerned within the development of a 17-story high-rise condo constructing that was the one main construction to have collapsed, killing dozens, have been discovered responsible of negligence and given jail sentences.
“Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness is among the many most superior on the earth,” stated Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri College of Science and Know-how. “The island has applied strict constructing codes, a world-class seismological community, and widespread public schooling campaigns on earthquake security.”
Taiwan is also pushing quake drills at faculties and workplaces whereas public media and cellphones recurrently carry notices about earthquakes and security.
“These measures have considerably enhanced Taiwan’s resilience to earthquakes, serving to to mitigate the potential for catastrophic injury and lack of life,” Gao stated.
Taiwan’s earthquake historical past
Taiwan and its surrounding waters have registered about 2,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher since 1980, and greater than 100 earthquakes with a magnitude above 5.5, in line with the USGS.
The island’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7. It prompted 2,400 deaths, injured round 100,000 and destroyed hundreds of buildings.
The final lethal quake to strike Hualien County occurred in 2018, collapsing a historic lodge and different buildings.
“This excessive degree of seismic exercise will sadly proceed for thousands and thousands of years to come back,” stated Gao. “This underscores the significance of preparedness and resilience within the face of ongoing seismic dangers.”
Taiwan was struck Wednesday by its strongest earthquake in 1 / 4 of a century with highly effective shaking in a area that shares at the very least one key similarity with Los Angeles.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot extra have been injured. The robust shaking broken buildings and highways, and practice service was interrupted.
Similar to Southern California, Taiwan is not any stranger to highly effective earthquakes. However their toll on the high-tech island’s 23 million residents has been comparatively contained due to its wonderful earthquake preparedness, consultants say.
Here’s a nearer take a look at Taiwan’s historical past of earthquakes and a key similarity with Los Angeles.
Similarities between earthquakes in Taiwan and Southern California
Taiwan is without doubt one of the world’s most energetic earthquake zones with about 10 occasions the variety of earthquakes as California.
There’s at the very least one placing similarity between Southern California and the placement of the shaking in jap Taiwan from Wednesday’s highly effective earthquake. The realm is a basin with a big metropolis, and it is what’s beneath that populated space that considerations seismologists.
“It is principally a giant bowl of unfastened sediment that may amplify the shaking, identical to Los Angeles,” stated seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. “That is one thing we fear about for right here.”
The depth of shaking from an earthquake relies upon largely on geology. Earthquakes could produce smaller or bigger seismic waves, relying on completely different soils encountered as these waves journey.
The fault within the Taiwan quake is a thrust fault, that means one aspect of the fault strikes up and over the opposite. Within the ocean, the water is violently displaced, which may end up in a tsunami.
The devastating magnitude 6.7 San Fernando/Sylmar earthquake in 1971 and the lethal magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake in 1994 have been on thrust faults.
“It appears just like the fault truly ran proper via the town,” Jones stated. “The one collapsing buildings I’ve seen are in Hualien. A few of them could be truly in a spot the place the bottom beneath the constructing, one aspect is now up 10 ft in comparison with the opposite aspect. No constructing stands up via that.”
Some buildings leaned at 45-degree angles, their floor flooring crushed. Simply over 93 miles away within the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and faculties evacuated their college students to sports activities fields, equipping them with yellow security helmets. Some youngsters lined themselves with textbooks to protect in opposition to falling objects as aftershocks continued.
The realm close to Hualien is extraordinarily mountainous, so it is also susceptible to landslides. A couple of dozen slides have been reported after the primary quake and aftershocks.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company stated the quake was 7.2 magnitude whereas the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck about 11 miles off of Hualien and was about 21 miles deep.
Hualien was final struck by a lethal quake in 2018 that killed 17 folks and introduced down a historic lodge. Taiwan’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7, inflicting 2,400 deaths, injuring round 100,000 and destroying hundreds of buildings.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot injured when a big earthquake rocked all the island of Taiwan early Wednesday.
Why are there so many earthquakes in Taiwan?
Taiwan lies alongside the Pacific “Ring of Fireplace,” the road of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean the place many of the world’s earthquakes happen.
The realm is especially susceptible to temblors as a result of stress accrued from the interactions of two tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can result in sudden releases within the type of earthquakes.
The area’s mountainous panorama can enlarge the bottom shaking, resulting in landslides. A number of such landslides occurred on Taiwan’s jap coast close to the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake close to jap Hualien County, when falling particles hit tunnels and highways, crushing autos and inflicting a number of deaths.
Sturdy aftershocks are more likely to proceed over a widespread space.
“A 7.4, the fault’s going to be about 100 miles lengthy,” Jones stated. “So, all of Taiwan has this considerably elevated threat. You’ve got in all probability, for a number of hundred miles, round this location an elevated threat.”
Photographs: What to Maintain in Your Catastrophe Emergency Equipment
Is Taiwan nicely ready for earthquakes?
Wednesday’s earthquake measured 7.2, in line with Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company, whereas he U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It broken a number of buildings in Hualien however prompted solely minor losses within the capital Taipei regardless of being strongly felt there.
“They have superb constructing codes (in Taiwan), however when the fault goes via the constructing, there’s not a lot you are able to do,” Jones stated.
The earthquake hit in the midst of the morning rush hour but solely barely derailed the common commute. Simply minutes later, mother and father have been once more strolling their youngsters to high school and staff driving to workplaces.
The federal government frequently revises the extent of quake resistance required of recent and present buildings — which can enhance development prices — and affords subsidies to residents prepared to verify their buildings’ quake resistance.
Following a 2016 quake in Tainan, on the island’s southwestern coast, 5 folks concerned within the development of a 17-story high-rise condo constructing that was the one main construction to have collapsed, killing dozens, have been discovered responsible of negligence and given jail sentences.
“Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness is among the many most superior on the earth,” stated Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri College of Science and Know-how. “The island has applied strict constructing codes, a world-class seismological community, and widespread public schooling campaigns on earthquake security.”
Taiwan is also pushing quake drills at faculties and workplaces whereas public media and cellphones recurrently carry notices about earthquakes and security.
“These measures have considerably enhanced Taiwan’s resilience to earthquakes, serving to to mitigate the potential for catastrophic injury and lack of life,” Gao stated.
Taiwan’s earthquake historical past
Taiwan and its surrounding waters have registered about 2,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher since 1980, and greater than 100 earthquakes with a magnitude above 5.5, in line with the USGS.
The island’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7. It prompted 2,400 deaths, injured round 100,000 and destroyed hundreds of buildings.
The final lethal quake to strike Hualien County occurred in 2018, collapsing a historic lodge and different buildings.
“This excessive degree of seismic exercise will sadly proceed for thousands and thousands of years to come back,” stated Gao. “This underscores the significance of preparedness and resilience within the face of ongoing seismic dangers.”
Taiwan was struck Wednesday by its strongest earthquake in 1 / 4 of a century with highly effective shaking in a area that shares at the very least one key similarity with Los Angeles.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot extra have been injured. The robust shaking broken buildings and highways, and practice service was interrupted.
Similar to Southern California, Taiwan is not any stranger to highly effective earthquakes. However their toll on the high-tech island’s 23 million residents has been comparatively contained due to its wonderful earthquake preparedness, consultants say.
Here’s a nearer take a look at Taiwan’s historical past of earthquakes and a key similarity with Los Angeles.
Similarities between earthquakes in Taiwan and Southern California
Taiwan is without doubt one of the world’s most energetic earthquake zones with about 10 occasions the variety of earthquakes as California.
There’s at the very least one placing similarity between Southern California and the placement of the shaking in jap Taiwan from Wednesday’s highly effective earthquake. The realm is a basin with a big metropolis, and it is what’s beneath that populated space that considerations seismologists.
“It is principally a giant bowl of unfastened sediment that may amplify the shaking, identical to Los Angeles,” stated seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. “That is one thing we fear about for right here.”
The depth of shaking from an earthquake relies upon largely on geology. Earthquakes could produce smaller or bigger seismic waves, relying on completely different soils encountered as these waves journey.
The fault within the Taiwan quake is a thrust fault, that means one aspect of the fault strikes up and over the opposite. Within the ocean, the water is violently displaced, which may end up in a tsunami.
The devastating magnitude 6.7 San Fernando/Sylmar earthquake in 1971 and the lethal magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake in 1994 have been on thrust faults.
“It appears just like the fault truly ran proper via the town,” Jones stated. “The one collapsing buildings I’ve seen are in Hualien. A few of them could be truly in a spot the place the bottom beneath the constructing, one aspect is now up 10 ft in comparison with the opposite aspect. No constructing stands up via that.”
Some buildings leaned at 45-degree angles, their floor flooring crushed. Simply over 93 miles away within the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and faculties evacuated their college students to sports activities fields, equipping them with yellow security helmets. Some youngsters lined themselves with textbooks to protect in opposition to falling objects as aftershocks continued.
The realm close to Hualien is extraordinarily mountainous, so it is also susceptible to landslides. A couple of dozen slides have been reported after the primary quake and aftershocks.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company stated the quake was 7.2 magnitude whereas the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck about 11 miles off of Hualien and was about 21 miles deep.
Hualien was final struck by a lethal quake in 2018 that killed 17 folks and introduced down a historic lodge. Taiwan’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7, inflicting 2,400 deaths, injuring round 100,000 and destroying hundreds of buildings.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot injured when a big earthquake rocked all the island of Taiwan early Wednesday.
Why are there so many earthquakes in Taiwan?
Taiwan lies alongside the Pacific “Ring of Fireplace,” the road of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean the place many of the world’s earthquakes happen.
The realm is especially susceptible to temblors as a result of stress accrued from the interactions of two tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can result in sudden releases within the type of earthquakes.
The area’s mountainous panorama can enlarge the bottom shaking, resulting in landslides. A number of such landslides occurred on Taiwan’s jap coast close to the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake close to jap Hualien County, when falling particles hit tunnels and highways, crushing autos and inflicting a number of deaths.
Sturdy aftershocks are more likely to proceed over a widespread space.
“A 7.4, the fault’s going to be about 100 miles lengthy,” Jones stated. “So, all of Taiwan has this considerably elevated threat. You’ve got in all probability, for a number of hundred miles, round this location an elevated threat.”
Photographs: What to Maintain in Your Catastrophe Emergency Equipment
Is Taiwan nicely ready for earthquakes?
Wednesday’s earthquake measured 7.2, in line with Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company, whereas he U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It broken a number of buildings in Hualien however prompted solely minor losses within the capital Taipei regardless of being strongly felt there.
“They have superb constructing codes (in Taiwan), however when the fault goes via the constructing, there’s not a lot you are able to do,” Jones stated.
The earthquake hit in the midst of the morning rush hour but solely barely derailed the common commute. Simply minutes later, mother and father have been once more strolling their youngsters to high school and staff driving to workplaces.
The federal government frequently revises the extent of quake resistance required of recent and present buildings — which can enhance development prices — and affords subsidies to residents prepared to verify their buildings’ quake resistance.
Following a 2016 quake in Tainan, on the island’s southwestern coast, 5 folks concerned within the development of a 17-story high-rise condo constructing that was the one main construction to have collapsed, killing dozens, have been discovered responsible of negligence and given jail sentences.
“Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness is among the many most superior on the earth,” stated Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri College of Science and Know-how. “The island has applied strict constructing codes, a world-class seismological community, and widespread public schooling campaigns on earthquake security.”
Taiwan is also pushing quake drills at faculties and workplaces whereas public media and cellphones recurrently carry notices about earthquakes and security.
“These measures have considerably enhanced Taiwan’s resilience to earthquakes, serving to to mitigate the potential for catastrophic injury and lack of life,” Gao stated.
Taiwan’s earthquake historical past
Taiwan and its surrounding waters have registered about 2,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher since 1980, and greater than 100 earthquakes with a magnitude above 5.5, in line with the USGS.
The island’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7. It prompted 2,400 deaths, injured round 100,000 and destroyed hundreds of buildings.
The final lethal quake to strike Hualien County occurred in 2018, collapsing a historic lodge and different buildings.
“This excessive degree of seismic exercise will sadly proceed for thousands and thousands of years to come back,” stated Gao. “This underscores the significance of preparedness and resilience within the face of ongoing seismic dangers.”
Taiwan was struck Wednesday by its strongest earthquake in 1 / 4 of a century with highly effective shaking in a area that shares at the very least one key similarity with Los Angeles.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot extra have been injured. The robust shaking broken buildings and highways, and practice service was interrupted.
Similar to Southern California, Taiwan is not any stranger to highly effective earthquakes. However their toll on the high-tech island’s 23 million residents has been comparatively contained due to its wonderful earthquake preparedness, consultants say.
Here’s a nearer take a look at Taiwan’s historical past of earthquakes and a key similarity with Los Angeles.
Similarities between earthquakes in Taiwan and Southern California
Taiwan is without doubt one of the world’s most energetic earthquake zones with about 10 occasions the variety of earthquakes as California.
There’s at the very least one placing similarity between Southern California and the placement of the shaking in jap Taiwan from Wednesday’s highly effective earthquake. The realm is a basin with a big metropolis, and it is what’s beneath that populated space that considerations seismologists.
“It is principally a giant bowl of unfastened sediment that may amplify the shaking, identical to Los Angeles,” stated seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. “That is one thing we fear about for right here.”
The depth of shaking from an earthquake relies upon largely on geology. Earthquakes could produce smaller or bigger seismic waves, relying on completely different soils encountered as these waves journey.
The fault within the Taiwan quake is a thrust fault, that means one aspect of the fault strikes up and over the opposite. Within the ocean, the water is violently displaced, which may end up in a tsunami.
The devastating magnitude 6.7 San Fernando/Sylmar earthquake in 1971 and the lethal magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake in 1994 have been on thrust faults.
“It appears just like the fault truly ran proper via the town,” Jones stated. “The one collapsing buildings I’ve seen are in Hualien. A few of them could be truly in a spot the place the bottom beneath the constructing, one aspect is now up 10 ft in comparison with the opposite aspect. No constructing stands up via that.”
Some buildings leaned at 45-degree angles, their floor flooring crushed. Simply over 93 miles away within the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and faculties evacuated their college students to sports activities fields, equipping them with yellow security helmets. Some youngsters lined themselves with textbooks to protect in opposition to falling objects as aftershocks continued.
The realm close to Hualien is extraordinarily mountainous, so it is also susceptible to landslides. A couple of dozen slides have been reported after the primary quake and aftershocks.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company stated the quake was 7.2 magnitude whereas the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck about 11 miles off of Hualien and was about 21 miles deep.
Hualien was final struck by a lethal quake in 2018 that killed 17 folks and introduced down a historic lodge. Taiwan’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7, inflicting 2,400 deaths, injuring round 100,000 and destroying hundreds of buildings.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot injured when a big earthquake rocked all the island of Taiwan early Wednesday.
Why are there so many earthquakes in Taiwan?
Taiwan lies alongside the Pacific “Ring of Fireplace,” the road of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean the place many of the world’s earthquakes happen.
The realm is especially susceptible to temblors as a result of stress accrued from the interactions of two tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can result in sudden releases within the type of earthquakes.
The area’s mountainous panorama can enlarge the bottom shaking, resulting in landslides. A number of such landslides occurred on Taiwan’s jap coast close to the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake close to jap Hualien County, when falling particles hit tunnels and highways, crushing autos and inflicting a number of deaths.
Sturdy aftershocks are more likely to proceed over a widespread space.
“A 7.4, the fault’s going to be about 100 miles lengthy,” Jones stated. “So, all of Taiwan has this considerably elevated threat. You’ve got in all probability, for a number of hundred miles, round this location an elevated threat.”
Photographs: What to Maintain in Your Catastrophe Emergency Equipment
Is Taiwan nicely ready for earthquakes?
Wednesday’s earthquake measured 7.2, in line with Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company, whereas he U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It broken a number of buildings in Hualien however prompted solely minor losses within the capital Taipei regardless of being strongly felt there.
“They have superb constructing codes (in Taiwan), however when the fault goes via the constructing, there’s not a lot you are able to do,” Jones stated.
The earthquake hit in the midst of the morning rush hour but solely barely derailed the common commute. Simply minutes later, mother and father have been once more strolling their youngsters to high school and staff driving to workplaces.
The federal government frequently revises the extent of quake resistance required of recent and present buildings — which can enhance development prices — and affords subsidies to residents prepared to verify their buildings’ quake resistance.
Following a 2016 quake in Tainan, on the island’s southwestern coast, 5 folks concerned within the development of a 17-story high-rise condo constructing that was the one main construction to have collapsed, killing dozens, have been discovered responsible of negligence and given jail sentences.
“Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness is among the many most superior on the earth,” stated Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri College of Science and Know-how. “The island has applied strict constructing codes, a world-class seismological community, and widespread public schooling campaigns on earthquake security.”
Taiwan is also pushing quake drills at faculties and workplaces whereas public media and cellphones recurrently carry notices about earthquakes and security.
“These measures have considerably enhanced Taiwan’s resilience to earthquakes, serving to to mitigate the potential for catastrophic injury and lack of life,” Gao stated.
Taiwan’s earthquake historical past
Taiwan and its surrounding waters have registered about 2,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher since 1980, and greater than 100 earthquakes with a magnitude above 5.5, in line with the USGS.
The island’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7. It prompted 2,400 deaths, injured round 100,000 and destroyed hundreds of buildings.
The final lethal quake to strike Hualien County occurred in 2018, collapsing a historic lodge and different buildings.
“This excessive degree of seismic exercise will sadly proceed for thousands and thousands of years to come back,” stated Gao. “This underscores the significance of preparedness and resilience within the face of ongoing seismic dangers.”
Taiwan was struck Wednesday by its strongest earthquake in 1 / 4 of a century with highly effective shaking in a area that shares at the very least one key similarity with Los Angeles.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot extra have been injured. The robust shaking broken buildings and highways, and practice service was interrupted.
Similar to Southern California, Taiwan is not any stranger to highly effective earthquakes. However their toll on the high-tech island’s 23 million residents has been comparatively contained due to its wonderful earthquake preparedness, consultants say.
Here’s a nearer take a look at Taiwan’s historical past of earthquakes and a key similarity with Los Angeles.
Similarities between earthquakes in Taiwan and Southern California
Taiwan is without doubt one of the world’s most energetic earthquake zones with about 10 occasions the variety of earthquakes as California.
There’s at the very least one placing similarity between Southern California and the placement of the shaking in jap Taiwan from Wednesday’s highly effective earthquake. The realm is a basin with a big metropolis, and it is what’s beneath that populated space that considerations seismologists.
“It is principally a giant bowl of unfastened sediment that may amplify the shaking, identical to Los Angeles,” stated seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. “That is one thing we fear about for right here.”
The depth of shaking from an earthquake relies upon largely on geology. Earthquakes could produce smaller or bigger seismic waves, relying on completely different soils encountered as these waves journey.
The fault within the Taiwan quake is a thrust fault, that means one aspect of the fault strikes up and over the opposite. Within the ocean, the water is violently displaced, which may end up in a tsunami.
The devastating magnitude 6.7 San Fernando/Sylmar earthquake in 1971 and the lethal magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake in 1994 have been on thrust faults.
“It appears just like the fault truly ran proper via the town,” Jones stated. “The one collapsing buildings I’ve seen are in Hualien. A few of them could be truly in a spot the place the bottom beneath the constructing, one aspect is now up 10 ft in comparison with the opposite aspect. No constructing stands up via that.”
Some buildings leaned at 45-degree angles, their floor flooring crushed. Simply over 93 miles away within the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and faculties evacuated their college students to sports activities fields, equipping them with yellow security helmets. Some youngsters lined themselves with textbooks to protect in opposition to falling objects as aftershocks continued.
The realm close to Hualien is extraordinarily mountainous, so it is also susceptible to landslides. A couple of dozen slides have been reported after the primary quake and aftershocks.
Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company stated the quake was 7.2 magnitude whereas the U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck about 11 miles off of Hualien and was about 21 miles deep.
Hualien was final struck by a lethal quake in 2018 that killed 17 folks and introduced down a historic lodge. Taiwan’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7, inflicting 2,400 deaths, injuring round 100,000 and destroying hundreds of buildings.
No less than 9 folks have been killed and a whole lot injured when a big earthquake rocked all the island of Taiwan early Wednesday.
Why are there so many earthquakes in Taiwan?
Taiwan lies alongside the Pacific “Ring of Fireplace,” the road of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean the place many of the world’s earthquakes happen.
The realm is especially susceptible to temblors as a result of stress accrued from the interactions of two tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which can result in sudden releases within the type of earthquakes.
The area’s mountainous panorama can enlarge the bottom shaking, resulting in landslides. A number of such landslides occurred on Taiwan’s jap coast close to the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake close to jap Hualien County, when falling particles hit tunnels and highways, crushing autos and inflicting a number of deaths.
Sturdy aftershocks are more likely to proceed over a widespread space.
“A 7.4, the fault’s going to be about 100 miles lengthy,” Jones stated. “So, all of Taiwan has this considerably elevated threat. You’ve got in all probability, for a number of hundred miles, round this location an elevated threat.”
Photographs: What to Maintain in Your Catastrophe Emergency Equipment
Is Taiwan nicely ready for earthquakes?
Wednesday’s earthquake measured 7.2, in line with Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring company, whereas he U.S. Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It broken a number of buildings in Hualien however prompted solely minor losses within the capital Taipei regardless of being strongly felt there.
“They have superb constructing codes (in Taiwan), however when the fault goes via the constructing, there’s not a lot you are able to do,” Jones stated.
The earthquake hit in the midst of the morning rush hour but solely barely derailed the common commute. Simply minutes later, mother and father have been once more strolling their youngsters to high school and staff driving to workplaces.
The federal government frequently revises the extent of quake resistance required of recent and present buildings — which can enhance development prices — and affords subsidies to residents prepared to verify their buildings’ quake resistance.
Following a 2016 quake in Tainan, on the island’s southwestern coast, 5 folks concerned within the development of a 17-story high-rise condo constructing that was the one main construction to have collapsed, killing dozens, have been discovered responsible of negligence and given jail sentences.
“Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness is among the many most superior on the earth,” stated Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri College of Science and Know-how. “The island has applied strict constructing codes, a world-class seismological community, and widespread public schooling campaigns on earthquake security.”
Taiwan is also pushing quake drills at faculties and workplaces whereas public media and cellphones recurrently carry notices about earthquakes and security.
“These measures have considerably enhanced Taiwan’s resilience to earthquakes, serving to to mitigate the potential for catastrophic injury and lack of life,” Gao stated.
Taiwan’s earthquake historical past
Taiwan and its surrounding waters have registered about 2,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher since 1980, and greater than 100 earthquakes with a magnitude above 5.5, in line with the USGS.
The island’s worst quake in recent times struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of seven.7. It prompted 2,400 deaths, injured round 100,000 and destroyed hundreds of buildings.
The final lethal quake to strike Hualien County occurred in 2018, collapsing a historic lodge and different buildings.
“This excessive degree of seismic exercise will sadly proceed for thousands and thousands of years to come back,” stated Gao. “This underscores the significance of preparedness and resilience within the face of ongoing seismic dangers.”