Southern Taiwan jolted by 6.4-magnitude quake
14:17 / 04.03.2010 A 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Taiwan on Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of deaths or serious injuries, APA reports quoting CNN.
Taiwan’s interior ministry reported 11 minor injuries.
The quake struck at about 8:20 a.m. (7:20 p.m. Wednesday ET) in a mountainous region about 25 miles northwest of Taitung, on the southeast coast, and 40 miles east of Tainan and Kaohsiung on the southwest coast.
Were you there? Did you feel it?
The region, which includes Taiwan’s Maolin National Scenic Area, is recovering from a direct hit by Typhoon Morakot that killed hundreds in August. The typhoon dumped more than two feet of rain, causing serious mudslides in the south, including one that buried the village of Shiao Lin under 50 feet of mud.
Shuo Hong, an orthopedic surgeon in Taipei, about 155 miles away from the epicenter, felt the earthquake during a meeting at a hospital. "We were debating whether or not to run for shelter," he said, "but the hospital is safe. It is built to resist a 7.0-magnitude earthquake.
"It was shaking for about 20-30 seconds, shaking more than what we expected," Hong said.
Thursday’s quake was followed by more than a dozen aftershocks, the largest reaching 4.8. The initial 6.4 quake rumbled to the surface from 14 miles deep.
The Taiwan Ministry of Interior and the National Fire Agency said electricity was cut off in parts of Kaohsiung county, Jia Yi city and Jia Yi county. Taiwan’s official news agency reported that a fire broke out in Jia Yi city.Bu yazı ( 275 ) - dəfə oxunmuşdur
