Taipei, May 10 (CNA) The magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Hualien County in eastern Taiwan at 3:45 p.m. Friday was an aftershock of the major Hualien earthquake that devastated parts of the county on April 3, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.
The epicenter of the temblor was located at sea, 32.8 kilometers northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 10 km, CWA data showed.
The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, was highest along the border of Hualien and Yilan counties, where it measured 4 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale.
The quake also measured an intensity of 3 in New Taipei, Taichung, and Nantou County, the CWA data showed.
Wu Chien-fu (吳健富), director of the CWA's Seismological Center, said the jolt was felt around much of Taiwan due to its shallow depth.
The epicenter being close to northern Taiwan combined with a geological factor called "site effects" may have led people in northern metropolitan areas to perceived the shaking as intense, Wu said.
According to Wu, aftershocks of the April 3 tremblor are likely to persist for another three to six months.
Although the number of aftershocks fallen each day, Wu said the sporadic occurrences of strong aftershocks could still happen.
Taiwan had experienced over 1,400 aftershocks since the magnitude 7.2 April 3 earthquake as of 4 a.m. Friday, according to CWA data.
Related News
May 10: Three earthquakes jolt eastern Taiwan in 5 minutes
April 23: Strong earthquakes Tuesday aftershocks of 7.2-magnitude quake: CWA
April 3: Taiwan earthquake island's strongest in 25 years: CWA
● A true scout: How Greek national led others to safety in Taroko Gorge
● Earthquake survivor's horrifying account: Rocks falling like bullets
● Maternity staff recall rushing to protect babies during powerful quake
- Cross-Strait
MAC urges Beijing to be receptive to Lai's overture
05/20/2024 11:34 PM - Cross-Strait
Chinese scholars pessimistic about Lai's inaugural address
05/20/2024 11:29 PM - Politics
Opposition raises concerns over Lai's cross-strait stance
05/20/2024 11:00 PM - Cross-Strait
China likely to reject Lai's cross-strait exchange proposal: Scholars
05/20/2024 11:00 PM - Culture
Lai, Hsiao celebrate inauguration with 1st-ever state banquet in Tainan
05/20/2024 10:21 PM