M5.1 Earthquake 136 km SW of Hengchun, Taiwan — August 16, 2025
2025-08-16 22:51:28 UTC (2025-08-16) · approx. 6:51 AM UTC+8 local
On August 16, 2025 at 22:51 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 136 km SW of Hengchun, Taiwan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 21.0452°, 119.9104°. This earthquake was detected by 79 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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
119.9104°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Hengchun, Taiwan?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 136 km SW of Hengchun, Taiwan on August 16, 2025 at 22:51 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 21.0452°, 119.9104°, which is 136 km SW of Hengchun, Taiwan. View all earthquakes in Taiwan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000r1n5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, August 16, 2025). M5.1 Earthquake 136 km SW of Hengchun, Taiwan — August 16, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000r1n5/