Strong Earthquake Strikes Northeastern Taiwan

Did Taiwan's rigorous preparation save lives, or was it just lucky with the earthquake's location?

Published 6 hours ago

Strong Earthquake Strikes Northeastern Taiwan

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Above: The Taipei 101 building among residential and commercial buildings in Taipei on Oct. 2, 2025. Image credit: I-Hwa Cheng/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Taiwan's two decades of rigorous preparation transformed a potential catastrophe into a manageable crisis. Stricter building codes after 1999, mandatory earthquake drills and advanced early warning systems meant Taiwan survived largely unscathed while similar quakes devastated countries such as Turkey and New Zealand.

Guardian The Associated Press

Narrative B

Taiwan's preparedness deserves credit, but luck was the real lifesaver. Once again, the epicenter struck offshore near sparsely populated areas. Had the epicenter been on land in densely populated areas, the death toll would've rivaled other deadly disasters.

BBC News The Washington Post