April 2 2024 Magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Taiwan

3D Model

On April 2, 2024 (April 3 local time), a large earthquake struck beneath Hualien City, Taiwan.

This model shows the 3D tectonic setting of the earthquake. Discussion of this event can be found at https://earthquakeinsights.substack.com/p/deadly-m74-earthquake-strikes-taiwan.

The island of Taiwan has formed through crustal collision where two great subduction zones meet. The fast tectonic deformations cause intense seismic activity all through the island. The April 2 earthquake occurred on the eastern side of the island, where the oceanic crust of the Philippine Sea plate is jammed up against the continental crust of the island. The faults in this region are highly complex. The mainshock is circled by three rings.

Earthquake data are from the Central Weather Administration of Taiwan (https://gdms.cwa.gov.tw) and the United States Geological Survey (https://earthquake.usgs.gov).

Earthquake report from the USGS: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000m9g4/executive