Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/04/03
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Photo for illustrative purposes only / CNA file photo

Taipei, April 3 (CNA) Taiwan has been hit by 10 earthquakes measuring 5.0 or more on the Richter scale so far this year, compared with an annual average of 22, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Wednesday, after a magnitude 5.6 temblor shook southern Taiwan earlier in the day.

However, while the number is significantly higher than for the same period in other years, the CWB said it is within a reasonable range and does not necessarily indicate a higher frequency of quakes this year.

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

Some 70 percent of the earthquakes are centered in northeastern Taiwan, he pointed out.    [FULL  STORY]