M5.1 Earthquake 79 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan — May 12, 2026
2026-05-12 06:53:32 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 2:53 PM UTC+8 local
Felt by 1 person across nearby locations.
On May 12, 2026 at 06:53 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 79 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan, at a depth of 26.3 km and coordinates 23.2629°, 121.4893°. This earthquake was detected by 89 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
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
121.4893°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Hualien City, Taiwan?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 79 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan on May 12, 2026 at 06:53 UTC had a depth of 26.3 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 23.2629°, 121.4893°, which is 79 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 5.1 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.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000sx3h). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 12, 2026). M5.1 Earthquake 79 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan — May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sx3h/