AIR does not expect significant insured losses; Shaking felt in Taipei

Earthquake

An M6.2 earthquake struck central Taiwan on 2 June in a sparsely populated region of Nantou County 7km northeast of a similar rupture only two months ago (M6.0 on 27 March).

AIR does not expect significant insured losses from this event because the earthquake occurred in a rural area and take-up rates in the region are low. It is the largest earthquake in Taiwan so far this year.

The event took place only 22km south-southeast of the city of Buli (population 86,400). Taiwan’s third-largest city, T’ai-chung (population 2,630,000 in 2010), lies 38 km (23.6 miles) to the northwest of the epicentre.

Thus, although the immediate area around the quake’s epicentre is rural, as many as 35 million people live in the region. The event also caused shaking as far away as the island’s capital, Taipei, where early reports indicate structural damage has been limited.

The Central Taiwan High Speed Rail service has been suspended. Similarly, cable car service has been suspended in many places, and power outages have been reported.

Building damage to many schools has been reported, which includes cracked exterior walls, fallen tiles, and broken windows.

Contents damage has also been reported. The most severe damage — and the cause of the deaths and serious injuries so far reported — has been the widespread rockslides and falling rocks.