HONG KONG – A powerful earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Taiwan on Saturday (23/11), with tremors being felt as far as Hong Kong, approximately 720 kilometers away. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake measured 6.7 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake’s epicenter was located 18 kilometers off Taiwan’s eastern coast, near Hualien County, at a depth of 20 kilometers. The tremor occurred at 2:15 PM local time, causing buildings to sway in both Taipei and Hong Kong. “I was working in my office on the 32nd floor when I felt the building move,” said Sarah Chen, a finance executive in Hong Kong’s Central district.

“It lasted for about 30 seconds, and many of my colleagues were quite alarmed.” Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau reported that while the earthquake was significant, initial assessments indicate minimal structural damage in major cities. However, several areas in Hualien County experienced power outages affecting approximately 10,000 households.

Hong Kong’s Observatory confirmed that the tremors were felt across various districts, particularly in high-rise buildings. “This is a rare occurrence for Hong Kong to feel seismic activity from an earthquake centered in Taiwan,” said Dr. Raymond Chan, senior seismologist at the Hong Kong Observatory. Emergency services in both regions reported no immediate casualties, though several minor injuries were recorded in Taiwan from falling objects. Transportation services, including Taiwan’s high-speed rail, were temporarily suspended for safety inspections.

The Taiwan government has activated its emergency response protocols, with President Tsai Ing-wen convening a briefing with disaster response teams. “All relevant agencies are conducting thorough assessments of infrastructure and buildings,” stated government spokesman Lin Wei-ping. In Hong Kong, authorities conducted rapid structural assessments of key buildings and infrastructure, with no significant damage reported. The MTR Corporation confirmed that all rail services continued to operate normally after safety checks. Seismologists note that this event highlights the interconnected nature of geological activities in the region. The earthquake occurred along the fault line where the Philippine Sea Plate meets the Eurasian Plate, an area known for frequent seismic activity.