What Earthquakes Taught Us: From the 2011 Tōhoku Disaster and the Indian Ocean Tsunami to the Cebu Quake – The Shakes a Taiwanese Man Can't Forget

Did everyone feel that shaking in the middle of the night? Even though it only lasted a few seconds, that sudden jolt of adrenaline probably stayed with you for the rest of the night. Living in Taiwan, earthquakes are like an old, familiar acquaintance – just one with a bit of a temper, showing up every now and then to remind us they're still around. Over the years, some shakes stick with you, impossible to forget.

That Night, Hualien's Wake-Up Call

I remember back in , when Hualien was hit by a magnitude 5.7 earthquake. The intensity hit a in some areas, and you could really feel it even in Taipei and New Taipei City. I was watching TV in the living room when suddenly the whole world started spinning. The ceiling lights were swinging like a pendulum, and half the water in my cup sloshed onto the table. Looking at the numbers now, it wasn't the strongest quake we've had, but that sudden, raw shock made a lot of my Taipei friends realise for the first time: "So this is what people in Hualien deal with all the time." Later, chatting with locals from Hualien, I learned they've long since learned to take it in stride. When the ground moves, life goes on – but they never drop their guard.

Japan's 3/11, A Scar That Won't Fade

Speaking of earthquakes, you can't leave out the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. That afternoon, I was in the office when a news alert flashed up: a massive 9.0 magnitude quake had struck off the coast of northeastern Japan. Over the next few hours, TV screens worldwide showed wave after wave of water swallowing entire towns. Even though Taiwan is far away, our hearts collectively ached. Watching those familiar-looking streets turn into oceans, the feeling of helplessness is still hard to shake. That disaster made everyone in Taiwan more alert: we're all on the Pacific Ring of Fire. You can never say a catastrophe of that scale couldn't happen here.

The Indian Ocean Tsunami, A Catastrophe on a Scale Rarely Seen

Going further back, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake registered a staggering 9.1. The tsunami it triggered swept away over 200,000 lives. The internet wasn't what it is today, but TV news played the footage over and over – the waves hitting Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka. What were once happy holiday beaches turned into hellscapes in an instant. I remember my office organised a fundraiser, and people didn't hesitate to give what we could. The shock of it was deeply felt. Even now, watching a documentary about it makes my heart sink.

The Cebu Earthquake, A Warning That Felt Uncomfortably Close

More recently, the 2025 Cebu earthquake happened in the Philippines, but through social media, the devastation spread instantly. Seeing those centuries-old churches collapse, the panic-stricken residents – it really hits home that earthquakes don't respect borders. Taiwan and the Philippines share the same volatile tectonic neighbourhood. What happened in Cebu could easily be our tomorrow. For a while after that, a lot of friends started taking a proper look at their emergency kits. Some even organised groups to learn first aid. The sense that "it might actually happen" felt stronger than ever before.