Taiwan sits where the Philippine Sea plate pushes against the Eurasian plate, making strong, shallow earthquakes common. This page pulls real records for Taiwan: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Taiwan.
Check Taiwan hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk near Taiwan - or search any city or region.
Popular
Earthquake risk in Taiwan - FAQ
Is Taiwan at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 161 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M8.2 in 1920.
What was the biggest earthquake in Taiwan?
The strongest earthquake on record near Taiwan is M8.2, in 1920 (1920 Hualien, Taiwan Earthquake), from USGS.
Does Taiwan get tsunamis?
Yes - 27 tsunamis since 1604 (most recently 2024) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 40,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Taiwan?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.