Sat Dec 27 17:50:28 UTC 2025: News Article:

Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Shakes Taiwan; Minor Damage Reported

Taipei, Taiwan – A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Taiwan on Saturday, shaking buildings across the island and briefly causing power outages. While felt strongly in the capital, Taipei, initial reports indicate limited major damage, primarily consisting of isolated cases of gas and water leaks and minor building damage.

The earthquake, with a depth of 73 kilometers (45 miles), was assessed by the Taiwan weather administration as intensity-four, suggesting potential minor damage. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) registered the quake as magnitude 6.6.

Shortly after the quake, over 3,000 homes in Yilan experienced a temporary power outage, according to the Taiwan Power Company. TSMC, a major chipmaker, reported evacuating a small number of facilities in the northern Hsinchu Science Park, though evacuated staff have since returned to their posts.

Taiwan’s weather administration has warned residents to remain vigilant for aftershocks in the range of magnitude 5.5 to 6.0 in the coming day. The administration believes that the relatively deep and offshore nature of the earthquake has mitigated potential damage.

President William Lai Ching-te assured the public via social media that authorities have the situation under control, urging residents to remain alert for aftershocks.

Taiwan is seismically active, located near the junction of two tectonic plates. The island experienced a devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake in April 2024, which killed 17 people. Previous earthquakes in 2016 and 1999 resulted in significantly higher casualties, highlighting the island’s vulnerability to seismic events.

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