The Paiho earthquake occurred at 12:04 (UTC) on 18 January, 1964. This earthquake registered 6.1 in Richter magnitude and its epicenter was located around the Paiho Township in Tainan County (now part of Tainan City), Taiwan. The collision of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian plate resulted in the rupture of the 40 km Chukou fault. This shallow earthquake released a large amount of seismic energy which is equivalent to the energy released by the atomic bomb in World War II and caused a severe disaster. It induced earthquake sound, surface rupture and liquefaction. The embankment cracks were found in the Wushantou Reservoir and a landslide occurred in Guanziling. The direct lost in Chiayi city was not large, but a fire spread and lasted to one o’clock the next morning which caused major damage .

The Paiho earthquake, Digital Educational Platform for Disaster Prevention.