921 Earthquake

The 921 Earthquake (九二一大地震), also known as the 1999 Jiji Earthquake, was one of the most devastating natural disasters in Taiwan’s modern history. Striking in the dead of night on September 21, 1999, it originated along the Chelungpu Fault (車籠埔斷層) near Jiji in Nantou. The 7.7 M_L quake caused widespread destruction, resulting in over 2,400 deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents.

The earthquake’s impact was particularly severe in central Taiwan, but its tremors were felt island-wide, even causing building collapses in the capital, Taipei. Entire towns were levelled, and the region’s topography was dramatically altered, including the emergence of surface ruptures and landslides. Reconstruction efforts began swiftly, yet some affected areas were preserved as educational and commemorative sites to honour the victims and raise awareness about earthquake preparedness.