Move FM Global News

TAIPEI, Taiwan: Late on April 22, and early the next day, more than 200 aftershocks struck Taiwan’s quake-hit eastern county of Hualien.

However, only minor damage was reported and there were no casualties. Major chipmaker TSMC said its operations have not been affected.

Hualien, which is mainly rural and not highly populated, was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on 3rd April that killed at least 17 people.

Large parts of northern, eastern, and western Taiwan, including the capital, Taipei, were hit by quakes, the largest having a magnitude of 6.3.

Taipei resident Aden Peng, 44, a medical researcher, said, “Especially at 2 a.m., it shook very strongly. In fact, for a moment even I thought about rushing downstairs, but as we live on the sixth floor, I felt it a bit troublesome to go down.”

“Then again, according to my previous experience, I thought it should be fine and hoped it would be fine. And because I was very tired, I just continued to sleep, hoping for the best,” Peng added.

The series of earthquakes starting in the afternoon, numbering more than 200, were aftershocks from the large April 3 quake, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said.

The aftershocks were a “concentrated release of energy,” and more could be expected, though perhaps not as strong, said Seismological Centre Director Wu Chien-fu.

He added that with heavy rain predicted for all of Taiwan this week, people in Hualien must be prepared for further disruption.

On Facebook, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called on people to avoid the mountains and to stay alert.

“When an earthquake occurs, do not panic. Master the principle of ‘duck, cover, stay put’,” she wrote.

The Hualien fire department said two buildings, already uninhabited after being damaged on April 3, suffered further damage and were leaning.

There were no reports of casualties.

The world’s largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, whose factories are on the island’s western coast, said some staff at several factories were evacuated, but facility and safety systems were functioning normally, and all personnel were safe.

“Currently, we do not expect any impact on operations,” it said in an email.

Investors brushed off concerns about the quake, with TSMC’s Taipei-listed shares closing up 1.6% on Tuesday.

In mountainous Hualien County, road closings following rockfalls were reported, and the government suspended work and school for the day.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes. More than 100 people were killed in a quake in southern Taiwan in 2016, while a 7.3 magnitude quake killed more than 2,000 people in 1999.