Cablegate: Offshore Taiwan Earthquake: No Serious Damage

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS TAIPEI 003232

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO AIT/W AND EAP/RSP/TC

DOI PLEASE PASS TO USGS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL TPHY SENV ECON TW ESTH
SUBJECT: OFFSHORE TAIWAN EARTHQUAKE: NO SERIOUS DAMAGE

On October 15, 2004 at 12:08pm, a powerful earthquake of 7
on the Richter Scale struck at approximately 70 miles east
of Taiwan's northeastern coastal city of Ilan. The
earthquake was at a depth of 59 kilometers beneath the
surface of the ocean. Taiwan's northeastern cities of Ilan
and Hualien felt the greatest effects with tremors reaching
a magnitude of 5 on the Richter Scale. The earthquake
reached 4 on the Richter Scale for the remainder of northern
Taiwan, including Taipei. As of 4:00pm, no deaths and only
minor injuries to two people and damage to a single home
were reported. This is the strongest earthquake recorded
since September 21, 1999, when a magnitude 7.6 quake struck
central Taiwan killing over 2,400 people, injuring more than
10,0000 and damaging or destroying over 50,000 buildings.

Paal

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