What caused the recent earthquakes in Taiwan?

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A series of significant earthquakes struck Taiwan, beginning with a magnitude 6.5 quake on September 17, 2022, followed by a stronger 6.9 magnitude quake on September 18. Both earthquakes occurred at a depth of 10 km and exhibited oblique slip fault motion, combining strike-slip and thrust mechanisms. The epicenter of the 6.9 quake was located 86 km southeast of Lugu, Taiwan, in Taitung County. Initial reports indicated no casualties, but the earthquakes caused train derailments, the collapse of a convenience store, and left hundreds trapped due to blocked mountain roads. Tsunami warnings were issued but later canceled, and local chip foundries remained unaffected. The 6.5 quake was initially considered the main shock until the 6.9 quake occurred, reclassifying it as a foreshock.
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Mw6.5 and 6.9 SE Taiwan
Earlier today ( my time) ...

M 6.5 - Taiwan​

  • 2022-09-17 13:41:17 (UTC)
  • 23.096°N 121.406°E
  • 10.0 km depth

this has been followed by a M6.9 ...

M 6.9 - 86 km SE of Lugu, Taiwan​

  • 2022-09-18 06:44:14 (UTC)
  • 23.159°N 121.316°E
  • 10.0 km depth
that is still coming in ( as I type) on my seismograph here in Sydney, Australia

220917-18 UT M6.5 and 6.9 SE Taiwan zhi.gif


Both events had an oblique slip fault motion ... a mix of strike-slip and thrust

1663488130610.png


for a brief explanation of moment tensor "beachballs" see this page of mine...
https://www.sydneystormcity.com/fomec.htm

cheers
Dave
 
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Yikes, those are strong. It looks like no causualties so far because of the location. Fingers crossed...

  • Train carriages derailed, four rescued from collapsed building
  • Tsunami warnings cancelled, chip foundries unaffected
  • More than 600 trapped by blocked mountain roads
  • Quake follows 6.4 magnitude tremor on Saturday
TAIPEI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the sparsely populated southeastern part of Taiwan on Sunday, the island's weather bureau said, derailing train carriages, causing a convenience store to collapse and trapping hundreds on mountain roads.

The weather bureau said the epicentre was in Taitung county, and followed a 6.4 magnitude temblor on Saturday evening in the same area, which caused no casualties. read more
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/powerful-earthquake-hits-southeast-taiwan-2022-09-18/
 
OK a couple of maps showing the M4 + events

Originally the M6.5 was the main shock, till the 6.9 occurred. It then became the mainshock
and the 6.5 a large foreshock

Regional map...
220917-18 Taiwan quakes.JPG


zoomed in ...
220917-18 Taiwan quakes zoomed.JPG
cheers
Dave
 
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