A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Taiwan late Saturday, marking the second significant tremor to affect the island within days, according to the US Geological Survey.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration reported a stronger preliminary magnitude of 7.0. The quake occurred at 11:05 pm local time at a depth of 73 kilometres beneath the sea off Yilan County, southwest of Taipei.
The Yilan County Fire Bureau said it had received no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage. Emergency services continued to monitor the situation, with aftershocks still possible.
🚨 EARTH SHOOK. HEARTS STOPPED. 🚨
A 7.0 MAGNITUDE QUAKE ripped off the coast of Yilan, with Level 4 shaking jolting Taipei 😱
Walls rattled. Phones lit up. Seconds felt like forever.
Stay safe, Taiwan – that was a serious reminder of nature’s power. ⚠️🌏#Earthquake #Taiwan… pic.twitter.com/9oSac1rBAw
— Baatein Stock Ki (@BaateinStockKi) December 27, 2025Local media reported that buildings swayed across Taipei, and the tremor was felt in multiple regions nationwide. Residents reported brief but strong shaking, though authorities urged calm.
Taiwan experiences frequent seismic activity due to its position along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the world’s most seismically active zone. Earlier this week, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck the island’s southeast, also without major damage.
🚨⚡⚡Video documents the moment the earthquake struck Taiwan today #earthquake #Taiwan pic.twitter.com/3wASXHGKvv
— MOSCOW NEWS 🇷🇺 (@MOSCOW_EN) December 27, 2025In April 2024, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake killed 17 people and caused widespread destruction around Hualien City, triggering landslides and severe building damage. Officials described it as the strongest quake to hit Taiwan in 25 years.
The island’s deadliest earthquake occurred in 1999, when a 7.6-magnitude tremor claimed thousands of lives and remains Taiwan’s most devastating natural disaster on record.
Authorities continue to remind residents to follow earthquake safety guidelines as seismic monitoring remains active.
