A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Hualien early on Feb. 7, the first with a magnitude above 5 so far this year. It was followed by two aftershocks. The Seismological Center says earthquakes frequently occur in the region and it has not detected any abnormalities.
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck off of Hualien at 4:20 a.m. on Feb. 7. It had an intensity of 4 in Hualien County and Yilan County, and was felt in 16 cities and counties. It was followed by two aftershocks over the next two hours, but their magnitude was under 4.
Chiu Chun-ta, Section Chief, Seismological Center: “After the magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck, there were two more earthquakes with a magnitude of three or so. We haven't detected any more earthquakes that could be felt since then. This area has always been an active seismic zone.”
A powerful earthquake struck Turkey on Feb. 6 Taiwan time. Is the world entering an active period for earthquakes? The Central Weather Bureau said Taiwan did see more frequent earthquakes last year, but earthquakes can't be predicted and at present the only way to respond is through the rapid reporting system. Experts say Taiwan is located in an active seismic zone and the government needs to convene experts to discuss and formulate disaster prevention strategies for each region, as well as estimate damages and other possible scenarios based on earthquake magnitude and intensity.
Shan Hsin-yu, Supervisor, Taiwan Assoc. of Disaster Prevention Industry: “The best thing to do in the initial stage is to deal with buildings or structures themselves. After that, you can evaluate whether our current earthquake resistance code is too stringent or sufficient, or insufficient.”
Experts say earthquakes are like other natural disasters in that risk management can be used to reduce damages. The central government has disaster prevention evaluations for the greater Taipei area's Shanjiao Fault and the south's Zhongzhou Structure, but they are only for firefighters to use as reference. Experts say information and regulations should be made public so that industries can use them.
清晨4時20分，花蓮近海發生芮氏規模5.1地震，宜花部分區域最大震度4級，全台16縣市有感，緊接著於4時、6時許，當地又再度發生兩起地震，不過規模都沒有超過4。
地震測報中心課長邱俊達說明：「5.1的地震發生後，有兩個規模3點多的地震，之後到現在，我們沒有再觀測到一些有感的地震這樣，其實這邊其實本來就是一個地震活動比較頻繁的區域。」
因土耳其在台灣時間6日才發生大地震，全球地震是否進入活躍期？氣象局回應，台灣在去年確實地震較為頻繁，不過地震無法預測，目前只能透過速報系統來應變。專家則呼籲，台灣處在地震頻繁區，政府應該召集專家研商，擬定北中南東各區的防災策略，依據「地震規模」和「各地震度」，來推估災損與其他相關情境。
台灣防災產業協會監事單信瑜指出：「最有辦法在初期作處理就是建築或結構物本身的部分，根據這樣一個想定，再去評估我們現行的耐震規範是不是太多，或者是足夠、或者是不足。」
專家認為，地震和其他天然災害一樣，都可利用「風險管理」來降低傷害。其實中央目前針對「大台北地區山腳斷層」、南部的「中州構造」都有防災評估，但僅供消防署參考，呼籲適度開放資料和法規，讓防災訊息可被利用在各產業。
