M4.5 Earthquake 91 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan — May 12, 2023
2023-05-12 17:30:21 UTC (2023-05-12) · approx. 1:30 AM UTC+8 local
On May 12, 2023 at 17:30 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 91 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan, at a depth of 29.7 km and coordinates 23.1661°, 121.4430°. This earthquake was detected by 70 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Taiwan, a region characterized by the collision of the Luzon volcanic arc with the Eurasian continental margin, where the Philippine Sea Plate converges at 80 mm per year. View all earthquakes in Taiwan.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
121.4430°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Hualien City, Taiwan?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 91 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan on May 12, 2023 at 17:30 UTC had a depth of 29.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 23.1661°, 121.4430°, which is 91 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan. View all earthquakes in Taiwan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Taiwan had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Taiwan was the M7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake of September 21, 1999. Today's magnitude 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kbi2). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 12, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake 91 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan — May 12, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kbi2/