Warning of major earthquake risks in Taiwan

Some Taiwanese scientists have warned that the territory is at risk of suffering a major earthquake in the near future. The reason is that the number of small seismic episodes appears abnormally low in the first half of 2007.

According to the Liberty Times newspaper, Taiwan recorded 147 minor seismic episodes, only one-fourth of the average in the first 6 months. In particular, there are only 6 earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 5-6 Richter, much lower than the number of 27 games in normal years.

Taiwan lies on the seismic belt connecting Aleutian Island, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, Chile and the US West Coast.

About 68% of earthquakes in the world occur in this area. The most serious earthquake was on September 21, 1999, when a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck directly in central Taiwan in Taichung and Nam Dau, killing 2,400 people and more than 10,000. injured person.

The dilapidated scene after the earthquake in Taiwan in late 2006 (Photo: cbc)