Hey everyone! 📢 Did you hear about the powerful earthquake that just hit China's Taiwan region? 🌏 Let's dive into what's shaking beneath the surface! 🌊
Recently, a massive magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck Hualien, marking the most devastating quake in the region in 25 years. 😱 Experts are saying it's all due to the intense tectonic movements in the area.
We chatted with Gao Mengtan, a researcher at the Institute of Geophysics of China Earthquake Administration. He explained that the Taiwan region sits at the junction of the Philippine Plate and the Eurasian Plate, where the Philippine Plate is subducting under the Eurasian Plate. This causes super intense tectonic movements and, you guessed it, frequent strong earthquakes. 🌋
\"On average, there's a magnitude-7 or above earthquake every seven to eight years,\" Gao told us. And get this—after the main quake, there was already a magnitude-6 aftershock! ⚠️
So what does this mean for everyone? Gao warns that we need to be prepared for more aftershocks and potential disasters like landslides and rockfalls. 🪨 Buildings and infrastructure might already be damaged, so any additional quakes could make things worse. 🏚️
Even in China's southeast coastal megacities, people felt the tremors! 🌆 Gao pointed out that tall buildings amplify the sensation of earthquakes, especially if they're built on sedimentary plains. So if you were high up in a skyscraper, you probably felt that shake! 🏙️
But don't panic! While the vibrations might have been intense, they're not enough to cause serious damage to buildings and infrastructure on the mainland. Still, it's a good reminder to stay alert and prepared. 🔔
Stay safe out there, friends! And keep an eye out for updates. 📰👀
Reference(s):
Intense tectonic movement causes strong tremors in SE China: expert
cgtn.com
