Catastrophic Earthquake In Japan, Taiwan: What Triggered It & Its Latest Updates
- Ananya Sharma
- Apr 4, 2024
- 4 min read
Hello, Everyone!
On Wednesday 3rd April 2024 early in the morning a catastrophic incident happened in Japan, Taiwan. A severe earthquake of magnitude 7.2 as per the Taiwan Geological Survey and according to the US Geological Survey the magnitude observed was 7.4 on the Richter scale struck Taiwan which led to aftershocks of severity having a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale as per the US Geological Survey.
It was the most severe earthquake in 25 years resulting in the death of 9 individuals and injury to 800 individuals. The epicenter of the massive catastrophe is positioned at 18 kilometers south-southwest of Hualien County in eastern Taiwan.
This is not the first unfortunate incident of earthquake that occurred in Japan. The country is prone to frequent earthquakes as it is one of the countries situated on the Ring Of Fire along the Pacific Ocean. As per Japan's meteorological survey, the country faces tens of thousands of earthquakes every year; however, the majority of them are of very little intensity to be felt by people.
A report by a US news agency since 1980; Taiwan, an island on the western side of the Pacific Ocean, and its adjacent water bodies have experienced around 2,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or more, and approximately 100 earthquakes or more having a magnitude above 5.5, according to the USGS(US Geological Survey).
About Ring Of Fire:-
Now the question arises what is Ring Of Fire? Conceptually Ring Of Fire, also marked as Circum - Pacific Belt, is a group of volcanoes and regions of seismic activities along the perimeters of the Pacific Ocean; about 90% of all earthquakes happen to occur here and this string is host to 75% of the entire active volcanoes i.e. around 450, globally.
As inferred from the name Ring of Fire the first thought that strikes into our minds it must be a circular ring; however it resembles more of a horseshoe and has a perimeter of 40,000 Km (25,000 miles) and more than 15 countries and regions are situated in the Ring Of Fire namely:-
1.Indonesia
2. New Zealand
3. PapuaNew Guinea
4. Philippines
5. Japan
6. United States (including Alaska and Hawaii)
7. Chile
8. Canada
9. Guatemala
10. Russia(particularly the Kamchatka Peninsula)
11. Peru
12. Solomon Islands
13. Mexico
14 Antarctica
15. Costa Rica
16. Ecuador
17. El Salvador
18. Nicaragua
19. Tonga
20. Fiji
21. Vanuatu
22. Kiribati
23. Samoa
24. Tuvalu
The Ring of Fire features most of the seismic activity as it is perched on the meeting of the tectonic plates and these plates move and interact with one another(like colliding and sliding against each other), causing several volcanoes and earthquakes. The Ring of Fire defines the edges of several tectonic plates, for example, the Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, Indian-Australian, Nazca, North American, and Philippine Plates.
About Tectonic Plates:-
The tectonic plates are fragments of Earth's uppermost layer(Crust) and the upper part of Earth's middle layer(Mantle) which are jointly referred to as the Lithosphere which is mainly the rigid outer part of the Earth. The plates are 100km(62 mi) thick and comprise primarily two types of material:
1.Oceanic Crust or Sima {Abbreviated for Silicon and Magnesium}
2. Continental Crust or Sial {Abbreviated for Silicon and Aluminium}
Now let's focus on how these tectonic plates move.
What Causes Movement Of Tectonic Plates:-
The tectonic plates move due to the circular movements of the molten rock (called magma)beneath the Mantlle; called Convection Currents. The Mantle is a semi-solid layer of molten rock called Magma comprising Silicon, Iron, and Magnesium which can flow slowly with time. The heat generated due to high temperatures in the Earth's core causes the Mantle's rock to be hot and liquid i.e. less dense. The hot molten rock rises towards the Earth's surface while the dense and comparatively cooler rock sinks to the core. This circular motion of rising and sinking rock is known as convection currents. These convection currents exert force on the tectonic plates and cause them to either come closer or drift away. When the hot molten rock rises beneath the tectonic plate, it exerts an upward force on the tectonic plate and gets it pushed from the rising area. However, when the hot molten molten rock cools down the tectonic plates are pulled towards it. This continuous movement and interaction of the convection currents with the tectonic plates cause the plates to move slowly over the Earth's surface.
Overall we can say that convection currents in the Mantle cause the tectonic plates to move leading to seismic activities and the formation of volcanoes and mountain ranges since the Ring of Fire is perched on the meeting of the tectonic plates and thus features most of the seismic activity like earthquakes and geological formations like mountains ranges and volcanoes.
Latest Updates: -
->To provide help to Indian nationals residing in Japan , the Indian Taipei Association has asked Indian nationals in Japan to comply with the advisories laid by the local authorities.
->The alerts were broadcasted by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) after the initial seismic activity of magnitude 7.5 was detected near Taiwan; to be prepped up for the potential threat i.e. Tsunami waves since the island is situated in the shallow depth.
->Yonaguni Island at 9:18 am was hit was a tsunami wave of 30 cm highlighting the urgency for expedited actions.
->The coastal areas of Okinawa were given an evacuation advisory after an earthquake hit Taiwan to prevent people from the predicted risk of the tsunami of approximately 3 meters tall.
->About 70 miners were trapped in two coal mines since the earthquake struck the island; as per the citings of the report by Taiwan authorities.
->Indian PM Narendra Modi expressed his grief and condolences towards the families affected by the earthquake and also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured . He also said that the nation is in support of Japan with unity while the Japanese people are facing the brunt of the natural disaster and getting over it.
->The injured toll mounts 1000 and 6 helpless people struck in the mining area were rescued
by a helicopter.
Thank You.
References:-
Very informative blog.. very well written 👍🏻