The head of Turtle Island (located off the coast of Yilan) collapsed after a strong earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck on the morning of April 3.
The earthquake occurred at 7:58 AM local time at a depth of 15.5 km offshore the eastern coast of Taiwan, causing several buildings near the epicenter to collapse, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau.
The head of Turtle Island collapsed after the earthquake on April 3.
Notably, the 7.7 magnitude quake also caused a large rock formation on Turtle Island to collapse. This rock formation, which juts out into the sea, resembles the head of a turtle. Large chunks of rock tumbled into the water, sending splashes as the strongest earthquake in the past 25 years in Taiwan occurred.
“At that time, there were no people or boats passing by. Fortunately, there were no casualties,” a witness told Creaders.
Close-up of the head of Turtle Island. (Photo: Traveloka).
Turtle Island, also known as Guishan Island, is located 10 km east of Toucheng Town. It is a popular tourist destination in Yilan, Taiwan. From a distance, the island resembles a turtle basking in the ocean.
One of the popular tourist activities here is whale watching. From March to November, Pacific whales and dolphins gather in the area. Tourists can visit the island during this time to witness pods of fish swimming around.
Turtle Island remains pristine, suitable for nature-loving tourists. (Photo: Traveloka).
It is important to note that visitors planning to go to the island need to book at least a week in advance due to strict conservation regulations. Additionally, Taiwan allows a maximum of 100 visitors per day to protect the island’s natural environment.
Moreover, tourists can visit other nearby attractions such as Qilin Island Park (suitable for those who enjoy nature exploration, hiking, or camping) and the Daili Shrine.
Turtle Island is relatively far from the mainland, and visitors can only reach it by boat or ferry departing from Wushi Port. The travel time is about 40 minutes. A tour of the island costs from 1,200 TWD (approximately 950,000 VND).
