Life Center / Reported by Lin Yunxuan
▲ Strong earthquakes of 6.4 and 6.8 occurred in Taitung for two consecutive days, and the aftershocks continued to cause disasters. The image shows the 45 degree tilt of the Ziqiang. (archive photo)
On the 17th and 18th, Taitung Guanshan and Chishang experienced strong earthquakes of magnitude 6.4 and 6.8 respectively, which caused the collapse of bridges and buildings in the Huadong area and more than 100 aftershocks. seismic center established that the epicenter is on an unknown fault in the central mountains, reaching the breaking point, after which the energy accumulated for a hundred years is released at once and the next step is to observe the degree to which the epicenter goes north.
On the afternoon of September 18, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in Chishang, Taitung, after which cattle turned frequently and the epicenter moved north. In this regard, the Bureau of Meteorology pointed out that the strong Chishang earthquake was the main shock and Taitung Guanshan was an anticipated shock the day before, but there were 73 preliminary shocks before the main shock, which is a lot rare. Yuli suffered a major disaster because five aftershocks of magnitude 5 or higher occurred before the main shock; after the main shock there was another aftershock of magnitude 5.4. This earthquake is also the largest earthquake that has occurred on the mainland in Taitung County since 1973, which is 49 years ago. Former director Xin Zaiqin believes that there are many faults in the Taitung Rift Valley, and it is difficult to distinguish who is the main one and who accompanies it. Judging by the location, the two earthquakes are not the same source. It can be said that “both they are major shocks, “but they are not double major shocks. Xin Zaiqin stressed: “It’s just a reappearance of historical earthquakes. Okay, Taiwan can’t sink.”
▲ There are many landslides and boulders that fall between 0km and 6km on the 30th line of the Yuchang Highway. (Photo / Photo taken from Yushan National Park)
Regarding Xin Zaiqin’s “double main shock” statement, Wu Jianfu, deputy director of the Seismic Center, said it has yet to be confirmed. He thinks it could be due to two major earthquakes in succession and a fault might not have as large a space to accommodate it. Wu Jianfu said he will study and judge that the epicenter is in the fault below the central mountain range, mainly because the seismic section is sloping to the west, but the name of this fault has not yet been announced. hidden beneath the surface and not exposed. “Valley fault, so we must continue to observe the extension north of the epicenter. Wu Jianfu pointed out that the aftershocks are spread north and south, but the location appears to be north , which is reminiscent of the sequence of the Huadong earthquake of 951.
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