A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck off northeastern Taiwan at 12:37pm yesterday, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The hypocenter of the temblor was at sea, about 16.9km east-southeast of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 66.8km, the data showed.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
The earthquake’s intensity was highest in Yilan County, where it measured 4 on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale.
The quake measured an intensity of 3 in Hualien County, New Taipei City, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County, Taichung, Hsinchu City and Miaoli County, the CWA said.
The tremor was probably an aftershock of a magnitude 7.0 quake on Dec. 27 last year, given the two events’ similar locations and the two-month interval consistent with an aftershock sequence, CWA Seismological Center Director Wu Chien-fu (吳健富) told reporters.
December’s quake struck at 11:05pm, with its hypocenter at sea about 32.3km east of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 72.8km, CWA data showed.
Further aftershocks cannot be ruled out, although their surface impact would be limited given the main quake’s considerable depth, Wu said.
Meanwhile, a total lunar eclipse will coincide with the Lantern Festival on Tuesday next week, giving skywatchers across Taiwan a rare chance to see a “blood moon,” the CWA said.
The eclipse will already be under way when the moon rises at about 5:50pm, when some of its surface will be darkened by the Earth’s shadow, the agency said.
The total eclipse will last from 7:04pm to 8:03pm, when the full moon is expected to turn dark red, it said.
The eclipse will peak at 7:34pm, and span 4 hours and 35 minutes, it said.
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow that gives the moon a reddish-copper hue during totality, the CWA said.
The previous total lunar eclipse visible in Taiwan occurred on Sept. 7 last year, it said, adding that after next week, the next one fully visible from Taiwan will be on Dec. 31, 2028.
No special equipment is needed for the event, although telescopes can enhance the view, the CWA said, recommending locations with a clear eastern horizon.
A live Webcast is to begin at 5:40pm on Tuesday on the CWA’s Web site, it added.
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