No abnormalities have been detected in a series of aftershocks following a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Jiasian Township (甲仙), Kaohsiung County, last Thursday, a seismologist said yesterday.
Kuo Kai-wen (郭鎧紋), director of the Central Weather Bureau's Seismology Center, made the announcement to calm anxious Jiasian residents, many of whom were rattled by magnitude 4.1 and magnitude 3.7 aftershocks that struck their hometown early yesterday.
Since last week's temblor, more than 300 aftershocks have been recorded, more than 10 of which were above magnitude 3, Seismology Center data showed.
Kuo said the aftershocks reflected the normal release of energy and were no cause for alarm.
“Hundreds or even thousands of aftershocks can occur after a big earthquake as energy is released,” Kuo said.
Both the number and scale of the Jiasian quake aftershocks fell within the normal range, Kuo said, adding that the number of aftershocks had declined to one or two per hour.
“There may still be an aftershock measuring 3 or 4 over the next few days, but people should not be overly worried about them,” Kuo said.
As to whether Taiwan has entered a seismically active period, Kuo said no special trend had been detected, Kuo said.
Taiwan records an average of 3.6 magnitude 6 or higher earthquakes annually. Last year, four quakes of such magnitude were recorded, compared with zero in 2008.
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