The Yuli fault in Hualien County is nearly 15km long, according to a survey of the region following a major earthquake in September last year, the Geological Survey and Mining Management Agency said in a statement on Monday.
The geologically sensitive area covers 4.4km2 and passes through Yuli (玉里) and Fuli (富里) townships, the agency said.
The fault was linked to a magnitude 6.8 earthquake centered in Taitung County’s Chihshang Township (池上) on Sept. 18 last year, the largest ever in the county.
Photo courtesy of the Mining Management Agency
Chihshang is just south of the Hualien-Taitung border, with Fuli directly to its north.
There were more than 70 shocks leading up to the big temblor, which killed one person dead, and caused the collapse of buildings and bridges in the area.
A geologically sensitive area is defined as an area near an active fault that is likely to be influenced by fault displacement or surface rupture.
Of the 36 known active faults in Taiwan, 22 the geologically sensitive areas of 22 have been determined, the agency said.
“Delineating geologically sensitive areas offers important information about disaster prevention, land conservation and development, and gives people a clearer understanding of geological environments,” it said.
Although the Geology Act (地質法) and other laws do not forbid or restrict development on geologically sensitive areas, development in such areas requires a geological survey and geological safety assessment, it said.
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