5.8 earthquake in Taiwan: panic among population but no deaths

Epicenter in sea off ​Yilan County, in the northeast of the country, about 60 km from Taipei. Shocks were felt throughout the island. In Taipei a parliament session interrupted by blackout.

Taipei (AsiaNews) – A 5.8 magnitude earthquake was felt this morning around the island of Taiwan, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and workplaces. The National Weather Centre said that the epicenter of the earthquake occurred in the sea off Yilan County, in the northeast of the country, about 60 km from Taipei.

Starting at a depth of 17.5 km, the quake has reached 6 degrees on the Richter scale in Nanao, while in the capital and in the Hualien County (central east) it reached 4. So far, there have been no reports of any serious damage to structures or people, although local media say the streets were invaded by fleeing citizens.

The earthquake caused a power failure in Taipei, which forced the parliament to stop its session.

Fear of earthquakes remains great on the island after the terrible earthquake last Feb. 6 that hit the southern part of Taiwan. The former island of Formosa lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is often hit by shocks. In 1999 an earthquake of magnitude 7.6 killed more than 2,300 people in the center of the country. In December 2006, an 6.7 magnitude earthquake caused a shortage in telephone and internet communications throughout Asia.

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