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Taiwan hit by biggest earthquake in 25 years: why scientists weren’t surprised

A complex network of faults lies in the area that experienced the earthquake, and more shocks are expected.
  1. Gemma Conroy
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A partially collapsed red building stands at a precarious angle in Hualien, Taiwan.

A building in Hualien, Taiwan, leans dangerously after a magnitude-7.4 earthquake on 3 April 2024. Credit: VCG via Getty

Scientists warn that more shocks are likely after Taiwan was rocked by the most powerful earthquake to hit the island in 25 years. The quake killed several people, flattened buildings and triggered landslides. Geologists say that the epicentre was in a complex network of offshore faults, which makes aftershocks or even another quake a possibility.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00988-8

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