Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/04/19
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

CNA file photo

Taipei, April 19 (CNA) Taiwan has been hit by 13 earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or more so far this year, compared with an annual average of 24-25, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Friday, after a magnitude 6.1 quake shook eastern Taiwan the previous day.

While the number is significantly higher than for the same period in other years, however, the CWB said it was within a reasonable range and did not necessarily indicate a higher frequency of earthquakes this year.

On average, Taiwan has 2-3 earthquakes of magnitude 6.0-7.0 and 22 of magnitude 5.0-6.0 each year, according to Wu Chien-fu (吳健富), deputy head of the bureau’s Seismology Center.

“We do not have enough data to make the call that this situation has been abnormal,” Wu said. “There could be months without any strong earthquakes later this year.”
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