At 13:01 Taiwan time on April 18, a powerful earthquake caused violent shaking lasting over 20 seconds. A national mobile earthquake alert indicated the quake was centered in Hualien with an intensity of at least level 4. The Central Weather Bureau later reported the actual magnitude as 6.1 on the Richter scale.
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The epicenter was located in Xiulin Township, Hualien, with a maximum intensity of level 7. The quake had a depth of 18.8 km, releasing energy equivalent to 0.7 atomic bombs. The prolonged shaking was especially intense in high-rise buildings. Areas such as Taipei and New Taipei experienced level 4 intensity, while Taichung, Yunlin, Hsinchu, and Taitung felt level 3. It was a widely felt major earthquake across nearly the entire island.
At 13:17, another noticeable earthquake of magnitude 4.1 struck Hualien, followed by two smaller quakes of magnitudes 3.1 and 3.4 at 13:32 and 13:46 respectively. At 18:29, a 3.6-magnitude aftershock occurred again.
Due to the relatively low frequency of earthquakes in Taiwan since 2017, it is estimated that energy equivalent to 13.3 atomic bombs remains to be released.
Chen Guochang, director of the Central Weather Bureau’s Seismological Center, stated that the maximum intensity of this earthquake was level 7 in Tongmen, Hualien — the strongest ever recorded there. There is a possibility of aftershocks with a magnitude of around 5 within the next seven days. If none occur, the aftershock activity will dissipate quickly.
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Photos that appeared to show cracks on Songren Road turned out to be a misunderstanding, which even led Terry Gou to visit the site for inspection, sparking considerable public discussion.
Major impacts from the earthquake include: Taipei Metro suspended operations (now resumed)
Passengers on the high-speed rail (Taipei – Taoyuan section suspended) and Taiwan Railways should also check for any changes to their schedules (services have been restored).
Photos widely circulated online showed a long crack on the road surface of Songren Road in Taipei’s urban area, located in front of the headquarters of Hua Nan Bank (No. 123, Songren Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City). The Taipei City Public Works Department responded that it was merely cracking of the road joint sealant with no safety concerns. This viral misinformation also prompted Terry Gou, who has just announced his presidential bid, to rush to the scene for an inspection.
A building on Section 2 of Chang’an East Road in Taipei tilted, leading to the evacuation of approximately 100 people. If another aftershock of magnitude 4 or above occurs, there is a risk of collapse.