6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Taiwan, Injures Several

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan early Tuesday, shaking buildings and causing minor injuries, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration. The quake hit at 12:17 a.m. local time (1600 GMT Monday), with its epicenter 12 kilometers (7 miles) north of Yujing at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).

Taiwan’s fire department reported that six people, including a child, were rescued from a collapsed house in Nanxi District, Tainan city, with minor injuries. Another person was injured by falling objects. The Zhuwei bridge on a provincial highway was also reported to be damaged.

There were no immediate reports of deaths, but rescuers were still assessing the extent of the damage. The earthquake caused buildings to sway in the capital, Taipei, located approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) north of the epicenter.

Taiwan lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active zone where tectonic plates collide, making the island prone to earthquakes. Last April, a 7.2 magnitude quake struck Hualien on the island’s eastern coast, killing 17 people and injuring more than 1,000. That earthquake was the strongest to hit Taiwan in 25 years and was followed by hundreds of aftershocks.

Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, and residents have been advised to remain cautious as aftershocks are possible. The Central Weather Administration emphasized that Taiwan’s infrastructure is designed to withstand seismic activity, but older buildings and bridges remain vulnerable.