Earthquake hits Taiwan: How strict building codes prevented a bigger disaster

Rescue workers near the semi-collapsed ten-story Uranus Building on Xuanyuan Road on April 3, 2024. Image © Shufu Liu, Office of the President via Wikipedia under CC BY 2.0 license Share

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On April 3, Taiwan was hit by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, the strongest in 25 years. According to latest reports, nine people were killed, and at least 900 others were injured due to damaged buildings and landslides on the island. The epicenter of the earthquake was off the eastern coast of Hualien County, and it caused severe damage to buildings, some of which were leaning at severe angles. However, the country's strict building codes, developed in the past two decades in response to intense seismic activity in the region, have prevented further damage and loss of life.

Taiwan lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a line of seismic faults that generate most of the world's earthquakes, and is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. The island's mountainous landscape also contributes, as it can amplify vibrations that trigger landslides that put tunnels and highways at risk.

Taichung, Taiwan – August 22, 2023: A view of the 921 Taiwan Earthquake Museum Building in Taichung, Taiwan, here is one of the monuments destroyed by the 921 earthquakes.. Image © Jack Hong via Shutterstock

The country's earthquake preparedness has been continuously improved over the past few decades, in response to past events. Among the most devastating of these disasters was a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck central Taiwan in 1999, killing nearly 2,500 people, damaging more than 50,000 buildings, and trapping thousands under rubble. The Taiwan Earthquake Museum was established in 921 to preserve some remnants of the earthquake and to serve as a public reminder.

Related article How cities can create resilience to natural disasters

Building codes are an integral part of Taiwan's strategy to improve preparedness. Two years ago, new laws were implemented, requiring owners of buildings at risk to implement structural reinforcements to enhance safety even for illegal modifications and constructions, until a long-term solution can be implemented. The government also provides subsidies to verify building resilience, while strict regulations are imposed on both new and existing buildings, all of which contribute to creating resilience and protecting lives.

An aerial view of the Wuchanggong Temple ruins when the earthquake struck on September 21, 1999. Image © elwynn via Shutterstock

Taiwan's earthquake preparedness is among the most advanced in the world. The island has strict building codes, a world-class seismic network, and extensive public education campaigns on earthquake safety. — Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, told the Associated Press

The Xiangshan Observation Deck in Taipei, Taiwan is the best place to see Terminal 101 and the Greater Taipei District. Image © Lin kent via Shutterstock

While the size of the earthquake is similar to those that struck Syria and Turkey in February 2023, or the September 2023 earthquake in Morocco, the extent of the destruction appears to have been much less on the Asian island. Experts estimate that Turkey's lax building practices and reluctance to adapt its legislature to modern standards have contributed to the fragility of the built environment in the face of such natural disasters.

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