Published: 8 February 2018
The M6.4 quake hit Hualien County of eastern Taiwan at 15:50 UTC (23:50 local time) on Tuesday February 6, 2017.
According to the USGS, the epicenter was located 21.4 km (13.3 miles) NNE of Hualien City, at a depth of 9.5 km (5.9 miles). Don Blakeman, a geophysicist at the National Earthquake Information Center, says the temblors have continued into the early morning hours on Wednesday. There have been three aftershock quakes over 5.0 so far.
These are just the latest in a series of quakes in Taiwan that began last week. The M6.4 quake is the second M6+ to hit the region, after a M6.1 quake hit at 13:56 UTC last Sunday, off the coast of Hualien.
At least 2 people have been reportedly killed and more than 100 are injured, according to the latest updates. Rescue efforts are in progress after many partially tilted buildings. Four buildings have entirely collapsed, numerous roads have been damaged and one bridge has been destroyed, according to Taiwan's National Fire Agency.
Hualien lies along the famed Ring of Fire known for seismic activity that circles the Pacific basin.
Sources: The Watchers, npr.org
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Earthquake Reconnaissance