More than 100 Hongkongers reported feeling tremors lasting several seconds from a magnitude 6.7 earthquake in Taiwan on Saturday night, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.
Initial analysis showed an earthquake of magnitude 6.7 occurred in Taiwan at 11.05pm, approximately 850 kilometers east-northeast of the city, with a focal depth of about 60 kilometers.
The weather watchdog estimated a local intensity of II on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, which is felt by persons at rest, on upper floors, or by those favorably placed.
Shortly after the "Local Felt Earthquake Report" was issued, residents across the city flocked to the Observatory's social media page to share their experiences.
Feelings of the tremors were varied, ranging from a "whole minute" of swaying in Kowloon West to an on-and-off tremor lasting several seconds, which many found distinctly noticeable.
In Yuen Long, several commenters reported strong shaking, where one resident living on the 14th floor observed wall hangings and plants swaying rhythmically for about a minute since 11.10pm — about 4 minutes after the earthquake took place in Taiwan.
"I thought I was dizzy at first, but when both of us felt it, I knew it wasn’t just a coincidence," another user wrote.
Other comments included a user who simply wrote "Mong Kok" alongside a video of a swaying light fixture.
Another internet user, whose location was unspecified, described the frightening experience: "It was a little hard to stand steady; the house was swaying left and right."
Tremors were logged from Tin Shui Wai to To Kwa Wan, where one likened the feeling to "a train passing by." However, in some districts, including Eastern District and Tuen Mun, the quake just passed unnoticed.
