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Taiwan:Earthquake:1999/10
Duration1999/10 A strong earthquake struck southern Taiwan on Friday, toppling 15 buidings, setting off fires, and sending a reported 200 people to hospitals.
There were no immediate reports of deaths after the 6.4 magnitude quake, but newspapers said that at least 200 people were injured.
Friday's quake struck at 10:19 a.m (0219 GMT) and its epicenter was 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) north of the city of Chiayi. About 80 aftershocks followed but only a few were strong enough to be felt, including 5.1- and 6-magnitude tremors.


Country or DistrictTaiwan
NameEarthquake

Headline(Source, Date)
Personal Injury Material Damage Others
AFP 1999/10/23


Losses in the industrial zones of Chiayi were estimated at 25 million Taiwan dollars (780,000 US), according to the Economic Daily News.
The rescue centre said 15 houses collapsed or were damaged, while the China Times said more than seven residential buildings collapsed and 49 houses were seriously damaged.



OCHA Situation Report No. 1 1999/10/22
323 people were injured and hospitalized throughout Chiayi city and county due to the tremor. No deaths have been reported.
A series of fire incidents occurred and tens of thousands of homes were left without electricity. About 15 buildings have either collapsed or were seriously damaged.

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Report/Articles
  • AFP 1999/12/07
    Two earthquakes with one measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale jolted Taiwan Tuesday but no casualties were immediately reported.
  • AFP 1999/11/17
    A strong earthquake measuring 5.2 on the open-ended Richter scale jolted central Taiwan Wednesday, the Seismology Center said, but no casualties or damage were immediately reported.
  • AFP 1999/11/15
    Two strong earthquakes struck Taiwan Monday sparking fears the island, which expereienced a devastating tremor in September, might be hit by another major quake the way Turkey was last week.
  • AFP 1999/11/02
    Terrified Taiwanese fled from their homes for the third time in six weeks early Tuesday as the island was again rocked by a powerful earthquake.
  • AFP 1999/10/23
    Hundreds of people set up a tent village in the Chiayi baseball stadium, and people wore helmets to a local temple festival for fear of further quakes.Some 40,000 Chiayi residents camped out overnight.
  • AFP 1999/10/22
    Hundreds of people were injured when a powerful earthquake rocked southern Taiwan Friday, leaving a trail of damaged buildings, fires and cut telephone lines in Chiayi city.
  • OCHA Situation Report No. 1 1999/10/22
    The fire department has set up a rescue command centre, while the Chiayi city government has established a disaster operations centre.




  • ABC NEWS　1999/10/22　
    A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 jolted southern Taiwan today, injuring at least 38 people as it collapsed homes and triggered a fire in a city near the epicenter.
    The quake, which struck at 10:22 a.m., was centered at 1.5 miles north of Chiayi City, about 180 miles south of Taipei, the Central Weather Bureau said.
  • BBC NEWS　1999/10/22　06:34 GMT
    A strong earthquake has jolted southern Taiwan, injuring at least 38 people and destroying a dozen homes.
    The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4, struck at 1019 (0219 GMT). There were no immediate reports of deaths.
  • CNN　NEWS　1999/10/22　08:32 GMT
    Strong earthquake struck southern Taiwan on Friday, toppling several buidings, setting off fires, and sending a reported 200 people to hospitals.
    Friday's quake struck at 10:19 a.m (0219 GMT) and its epicenter was 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) north of the city of Chiayi, the bureau said. About 80 aftershocks followed but only a few were strong enough to be felt, including 5.1- and 6-magnitude tremors.
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