M5.8 earthquake 27 km SSW of Yilan, Taiwan
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck 27 km SSW of Yilan, Taiwan on Fri, May 12, 1972, 9:21 AM GMT+8 (01:21 UTC), 55 km (34 mi) below the surface.
Map
Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Magnitude
- 5.8 (mw), moderate
- Local time
- UTC
- 1972-05-12 01:21:29 UTC
- Depth
- 54.7 km (34.0 mi), shallow
- Epicenter
- 24.540° N, 121.627° E
- Region
- Taiwan
- Strongest shaking
- IV, light shaking
- Tsunami flag
- No
- Status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
Shaking
The USGS ShakeMap: shaking estimated from seismic stations and the quake’s size, on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.
- Strongest estimated
- IV, light shaking
- Peak ground acceleration
- 4.0% of gravity
- Peak ground velocity
- 1.2 cm/s
- Map
- Automatic
Did you feel it?
No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.
How well it is located
Reviewed by a seismologist.
- Magnitude uncertainty
- ±0.25
- Depth from
- From location
Nearest places
Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.
Nearby
Within 100 km, magnitude 2.8 and up: 1 in the 60 days after this one and 4 in the 30 days before it.
After
Before
- 5.043 km SW of Hualien City, Taiwan · 19868 days ago · 0 km deep · 100 km away
- 5.623 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan · 19874 days ago · 15 km deep · 85 km away
- 5.238 km SW of Hualien City, Taiwan · 19879 days ago · 15 km deep · 91 km away
- 5.928 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan · 19881 days ago · 22 km deep · 91 km away
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Sources
From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event iscgem773381. Read Wed, Sep 30, 2026, 1:34 AM UTC.