Backgrounder: Recent earthquakes in Taiwan

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-27-2006 08:30

Earthquakes are a common occurrence in Taiwan. Now look at some of the more recent ones, and explain why there've been so many.

The island province of Taiwan lies in the southeast of China, looking to Fujian Province over the Taiwan Straits.

It is on the famous "Ring of Fire" of the Pacific Ocean, which is an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

Earthquakes frequently shake the island province.

Half of the tremors in China take place in Taiwan, with an average of 15 thousand a year.

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Most are minor and cause no damage.

In 2002, for example, there were 30 quakes above 5 on the Richter Scale and half a dozen above 6.

In September 1999, a 7.6-magnitude quake in central Taiwan killed two and a half thousand people and displaced a hundred thousand others.

In March 2002, a 7.5 magnitude quake off the eastern coast of Taiwan caused 5 deaths and 270 injuries.

In April 2006, 42 people were injured in a 6.4 magnitude quake in east Taiwan.

Editor:Du Xiaodan