5.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Taiwan's Hualien County, no damage reported

While no immediate reports of damage emerged, the tremor was strong enough to shake buildings in the capital, Taipei.

This event follows a 7.2 magnitude earthquake earlier this month that resulted in the death of at least 14 people in Hualien. Since then, Taiwan has experienced hundreds of aftershocks.

Taiwan is located near the junction of two tectonic plates, making it prone to earthquakes. In 2016, a quake in southern Taiwan claimed the lives of more than 100 people. The most devastating recent event was a 7.3 magnitude quake in 1999, which resulted in over 2,000 fatalities.

These events underscore the seismic vulnerability of Taiwan and the ongoing need for preparedness and resilience in the face of such natural disasters. (ILKHA)