OFFSHORE TAIWAN EARTHQUAKE: NO SERIOUS DAMAGE

UNCLAS TAIPEI 003232 SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO AIT/W AND EAP/RSP/TC DOI PLEASE PASS TO USGS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPL TPHY SENV ECON TW ESTH SUBJECT: OFFSHORE TAIWAN EARTHQUAKE: NO SERIOUS DAMAGE On October 15, 2004 at 12:08pm, a powerful earthquake of 7 on the Richter Scale struck at approximately 70 miles east of Taiwan's northeastern coastal city of Ilan. The earthquake was at a depth of 59 kilometers beneath the surface of the ocean. Taiwan's northeastern cities of Ilan and Hualien felt the greatest effects with tremors reaching a magnitude of 5 on the Richter Scale. The earthquake reached 4 on the Richter Scale for the remainder of northern Taiwan, including Taipei. As of 4:00pm, no deaths and only minor injuries to two people and damage to a single home were reported. This is the strongest earthquake recorded since September 21, 1999, when a magnitude 7.6 quake struck central Taiwan killing over 2,400 people, injuring more than 10,0000 and damaging or destroying over 50,000 buildings. Paal