M5.3 Earthquake 26 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan — April 22, 2024
2024-04-22 21:19:35 UTC (2024-04-22) · approx. 5:19 AM UTC+8 local
On April 22, 2024 at 21:19 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 26 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan, at a depth of 9.4 km and coordinates 23.7371°, 121.6109°. This earthquake was detected by 183 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — 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
121.6109°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Hualien City, Taiwan?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 26 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan on April 22, 2024 at 21:19 UTC had a depth of 9.4 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 23.7371°, 121.6109°, which is 26 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 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mt1x). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, April 22, 2024). M5.3 Earthquake 26 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan — April 22, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mt1x/