On January 21st, a strong and shallow earthquake measuring 6.4 on the moment magnitude scale struck southern Taiwan. It occurred at 12:17 a.m. local time in Dapu Township, Chiayi County, at a depth of six miles. At least 44 people were injured.
According to the Central Weather Administration (CWA), by noon of the same day, 74 aftershocks had been recorded since the initial earthquake, including 25 with a magnitude of 4 or higher, and two tremors measuring magnitude 5 and 5.2.
One of the most affected areas was Nansi District in Tainan, where, according to a local official, approximately 100 homes were damaged, and power and water outages occurred in some parts of Chiayi County.
Twenty-seven reports of road damage were received, 11 of which resulted in road closures, as well as damage to bridges and other infrastructure.
The seismic event also triggered landslides.
Several factories of the world's largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., were temporarily evacuated.
According to the director of the CWA's seismological center, the magnitude 6.4 earthquake was the strongest in Dapu Township in 61 years. It shook the ground for approximately 43 seconds. The tremors from this powerful earthquake were felt even in the capital city of Taipei.
There is serious concern about the observed increase in seismic activity, which, unfortunately, is not receiving due attention. Recently, there has been a continuous, exponential growth in the number of earthquakes. While magnitude 5 events were relatively rare in the past, they have become commonplace in recent years, occurring almost daily. The situation has worsened in the last six months, with magnitude 6 earthquakes becoming regular occurrences. The continuation of this trend is fraught with catastrophic consequences.
Information about the projected development of geodynamic processes in 2025 can be found in the report "A Brief Analysis of the Climate Situation."
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