M6.6 Earthquake 29 km ESE of Yilan, Taiwan — December 27, 2025
2025-12-27 15:05:55 UTC (2025-12-27) · approx. 11:05 PM UTC+8 local
Felt by 439 people across surrounding communities. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 6.1 (very strong).
On December 27, 2025 at 15:05 UTC, a magnitude 6.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 29 km ESE of Yilan, Taiwan, at a depth of 63.0 km and coordinates 24.6841°, 122.0354°. The earthquake was reported felt by 439 peopleacross surrounding communities, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 6.1 (very strong). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 298 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 916, making it one of the more significant events of the week. The nearest populated place is Yilan (population 94,188).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 22 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
Nearest Populated Places
What the Shaking Felt Like
At MMI 6.1 (very strong), people in the most strongly affected areas would have experienced: Strong shaking felt by everyone. Heavy furniture may move. Books fall from shelves. Plaster and chimneys may crack. Damage is generally slight in well-built structures.
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 439 citizen responses 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
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 925,519 |
| MMI 4 | light | 10,813,358 |
| MMI 5 | moderate | 7,818,404 |
| MMI 6 | strong | 330,398 |
Earthquake Details
122.0354°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 6.6 earthquake near Yilan, Taiwan?
The magnitude 6.6 earthquake that struck 29 km ESE of Yilan, Taiwan on December 27, 2025 at 15:05 UTC had a depth of 63.0 km. It was felt by 439 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 6.1 (very strong). For context, this was a strong earthquake capable of causing significant damage.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 24.6841°, 122.0354°, which is 29 km ESE of Yilan, Taiwan. The nearest populated place is Yilan (population 94,188). View all earthquakes in Taiwan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 6.6 earthquakes can continue for weeks to months 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 6.6 event is within one magnitude unit of 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: us7000rl2n). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, December 27, 2025). M6.6 Earthquake 29 km ESE of Yilan, Taiwan — December 27, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rl2n/