Quake likely December magnitude 7 aftershock: CWAStaff writer, with CNAThis afternoon's magnitude 5.6 earthquake in northeastern Taiwan was probably an aftershock of December's magnitude 7 quake, with further aftershocks possible, but likely minor, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Taiwan at 12:37pm, with its epicenter about 16.9km east-southeast of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 66.8km, CWA data showed. Photo courtesy of the Central Weather AdministrationThe tremor was probably an aftershock of the magnitude 7 quake on Dec. 27, given the two events' similar locations and the two-month interval consistent with an aftershock sequence, CWA Seismological Center Director Wu Chien-fu (吳健富) said. The December earthquake struck at 11:05pm, with its epicenter located at sea about 32.3km east of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 72.8km. Further aftershocks cannot be ruled out, although their surface impact would be limited given the main quake's considerable depth, Wu added.

Source: Taipei Times February 24, 2026 09:48 UTC