1999 Chi-Chi earthquake facts for kids
The Chi-Chi earthquake, also called the 921 earthquake, was a very strong earthquake that hit central Taiwan. It happened early in the morning on September 21, 1999, at 1:47 am local time. This earthquake was measured at 7.3 on the Richter scale, which shows how strong an earthquake is.
The earthquake's starting point, called the epicenter, was in Chichi Township in Nantou County. This spot was about 12.5 kilometers (7.8 miles) west of the famous Sun Moon Lake. The earthquake started 7.0 kilometers (4.3 miles) deep inside the Earth.
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What Happened: Earthquake Damage
The Chi-Chi earthquake caused a lot of damage across Taiwan. Many buildings were destroyed, and people were hurt. Here are some of the sad results of the quake:
- 2,416 people died or were never found.
- 11,441 people were badly hurt.
- The total cost of the damage was about US$9.2 billion.
- 44,338 houses were completely destroyed.
- 41,336 houses were badly damaged.
The ground kept shaking in Taiwan for a long time after the main quake. People still tell stories about how one house was not destroyed but moved from one county to another. Because of this, the house owners supposedly had to change their address.
The Chelungpu Fault: Where the Quake Hit
The 921 Earthquake happened along a major crack in the Earth's crust called the Chelungpu fault line. This fault is located in the western part of the island of Taiwan. It runs along the foothills of the Central Mountains in Nantou and Taichung areas.
Some parts of the land near the fault moved up or down by as much as 7 meters (23 feet). This huge movement changed the landscape. For example, near the northern end of the fault, a 7-meter (23-foot) tall waterfall was created by the earthquake. In the middle-western part of Taiwan, many bridges were destroyed. This stopped traffic for weeks, making it hard for people to travel.
Wufeng Village: A Place of Major Impact
The village of Wufeng in southern Taichung was hit very hard. The Guangfu High School in Wufeng was built right on top of the fault line. It was severely damaged by the earthquake.
Today, this damaged high school is part of the National Museum of Natural Science. It is now called the 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan. It helps people learn about the earthquake and its powerful effects.
Images for kids
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This map shows how strong the earthquake felt in different areas.
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The Tunghsing Building in Taipei City after it collapsed from the quake.
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The Wuchang Temple in Jiji (Chi-Chi), Nantou, collapsed during the earthquake.
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The Guangfu Junior High School in Wufeng was heavily damaged. It is now part of the 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan.
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This large waterworks pipe was bent by the earthquake. It was originally underground in Fengyuan, Taichung, and is now shown at the Museum of Drinking Water in Taipei.
See also
In Spanish: Terremoto de Chichi de 1999 para niños
