7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Taiwan, Japan

Magnitude:  The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.5 according to the US Geological Survey.

Location It struck off the coast of Taiwan, affecting the entire island.

Tsunami Alert Japan issued a tsunami alert for the southern Japanese island group of Okinawa.

Impact Buildings in the eastern city of Hualien, Taiwan, were shaken off their foundations. Evacuation Warnings: Japan’s national broadcaster, NHK, issued evacuation orders for remote Japanese islands, including Miyakojima

Previous Earthquakes Taiwan is regularly hit by earthquakes due to its location near the junction of two tectonic plates.

History Japan’s biggest earthquake on record was the 9.0-magnitude quake in March 2011, triggering a devastating tsunami.

No Tsunami Warning in Tokyo A magnitude 5.3 earthquake also rattled Tokyo in March 2024, but no tsunami warning was issued.

Population Impact The earthquake near Kasukabe in Japan affected a densely populated region.