Earthquake Journal Entry

Powerful Earthquake Jolts Taiwan (September 21, 1999)

More than 2,000 people were killed when a pre-dawn magnitude 7.6 earthquake jolted Taiwan. The epicenter of the quake was located about 150 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Taipei. Rescue efforts were slowed by three strong aftershocks of up to magnitude 6.8. Health officials in Taiwan are concerned about possible epidemics and shortages of fresh water. The quake, which injured at least 8,000 people, was also felt in the coastal provinces of China that face Taiwan. Although a tsunami, or tidal wave, warning was issued for several surrounding countries, none have been reported.

Earthquakes happen along breaks in the crust called faults, which usually occur near the boundaries of Earth's tectonic plates. The recent earthquake occurred along a type of fault called a blind-thrust fault, in which the plates slide vertically and the fault is hidden below the surface. The island of Taiwan is located in the earthquake-prone region where the Eurasian and Philippine plates collide. It has experienced several large quakes this century. The most deadly was in April 1935, when a 7.1 magnitude quake killed more than 3,000 people.