Authorities warn of aftershocks following Taitung magnitude 6.1 quake

Taipei, Dec. 24 (CNA) Taiwan's authorities on Wednesday warned of possible aftershocks following a magnitude 6.1 earthquake that struck Taitung County in the early evening, with tremors expected to reach 5.5 or higher over the next week.

The quake hit at 5:47 p.m. about 10.1 kilometers north of Taitung County Hall, at a depth of 11.9 km, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

The earthquake's intensity, which measures the tremor's actual effects, was highest at 5− in Beinan Township, Taitung, and reached 4 in other parts of Taitung as well as Hualien and Pingtung counties, CWA data showed.

The earthquake was a shallow event triggered by the ongoing collision of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, Wu Chien-fu (吳健富), director of the CWA's Seismological Center, said at a press briefing Wednesday.

Wu warned that aftershocks of magnitude 5.5 to 6 are possible within the next week and advised the public to remain alert.

Within a 30-kilometer radius of the quake's epicenter, 28 earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or above have been recorded, including a 6.2-magnitude quake in April 2006, Wu said.

Wednesday's earthquake hit during dinner hours, sending many Taitung residents rushing outdoors. Shelves toppled in local supermarkets and stores, and sections of the ceiling at National Taitung University Affiliated Physical Education Senior High School collapsed, though no injuries were reported.

Train services were temporarily suspended along the Taitung line due to electrical disruptions, with buses used to shuttle passengers to their destinations.

As of 7:30 p.m., rail services between Guanshan and Taitung had resumed after inspections confirmed it was safe to do so, while services between Taitung and Jinlun remained suspended.