Significant earthquakes of 2010

March 4, 2010 Earthquake: Kao-Hsiung, Taiwan

March 4, 2010 · M6.3 · $1 billion

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Kao-Hsiung, Taiwan on March 4, 2010 at 00:18:51 UTC, 21 km below the surface.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date
March 4, 2010
Time
00:18:51 UTC
Place
Kao-Hsiung, Taiwan
Magnitude
6.3 (Mw)
Focal depth
21 km (13 mi)
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
22.918° N, 120.795° E
Country
Taiwan

The toll

Injuries
96
Damage
$1 billion
Houses damaged
340 with its tsunami and other effects

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

Ninety-six people injured and one bridge damaged in Kao- hsiung. At least 340 buildings, including historical sites, damaged throughout the island. Felt (VI) at Yung-kang; (V) at Chao-chou, Chia-i, Hsin-ying, Kao- hsiung and Tai-nan; (IV) at Chang-hua, Hsin-chu, P'ing- tung and T'ai-chung; (III) at Hsin-tien, Tao-yuan and Taipei; (II) at Chung-liao. Also felt at Chih-shan, Chu-pei, Kang-shan, Kincheng, Ma-kung, Pan-chiao, Pu- li, San-hsia, Shu-lin, Tan-shui, Tou-liu and Yung-ho. Felt (III) at Fuzhou and (II) at Xiamen, Fujian. Also felt at Jiaocheng. Felt in Hong Kong and (II) at Ningbo, Zhejiang. Felt at Basco, Philippines. Recorded (6 TAP) in Chia-i and Tai-nan; (5 TAP) in Kao-hsiung, Ping-tung, Tai-tung and Yun-lin; (4 TAP) in Chang-hua, Nan-tou and Tai-chung; (3 TAP) in Hua-lien, I-lan, Miao-li and P'eng-hu; (2 TAP) in Hsin-chu, Tai-pei and Tao-yuan; (1 TAP) in Chin-men and Lien-chiang, Taiwan. (reference #1053)

2010, March 4. 96 affected, $1000 million damage. (reference #1250)

$1000 million damage, 96 injured. (reference #13727)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 2010The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2010Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 9152.