A strong earthquake measuring magnitude 7 struck Taiwan on Saturday, triggering panic among residents as buildings shook across several regions. Authorities are assessing the situation for possible casualties and damage, while emergency services have been placed on alert.

The earthquake struck at 11:05 pm local time, about 32 km east of Yilan County Hall. It occurred at a depth of around 73 km, with the epicentre located at 24.69°N and 122.08°E.

The tremor was very strong, and videos shared on social media showed household items shaking violently inside homes.

The quake came just days after another earthquake of magnitude 6.0 hit the Yujing district in southern Taiwan on December 24. That earlier quake was shallow, occurring at a depth of 10 km, according to the US Geological Survey.

Taiwan lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where major tectonic plates meet, making earthquakes frequent. The island experiences more than 2,000 tremors every year.

In April 2024, a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Hualien, killing at least 17 people and causing major damage. Taiwan’s deadliest earthquake occurred in 1999, when a 7.6-magnitude quake in Chi-Chi killed over 2,400 people.