Taiwan earthquake, Row over Katchatheevu island, MPC holds rate at 6.5%, and more | The week in 5 charts

Here are five charts that will help you understand some of the key stories from last week

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Taiwan’s eastern coast near Hualien city, killing at least nine and injuring over 900 on Wednesday. The earthquake was the strongest in 25 years. In 1999, an earthquake of 7.6 magnitude struck Taiwan, killing around 2,400 people. The chart below shows the severity of earthquakes in the region since 1900. 

Taiwan, being near the ‘Ring of Fire’, is prone to earthquakes. The ‘Ring of Fire’ refers to the areas along the western North American and South American coasts, a part of Russia’s eastern coast, Japan, Indonesia, and New Zealand. On a map, this forms a ring around the Pacific ocean.

Along these areas, tectonic plates converge, making them vulnerable to earthquakes. One estimate says that around 90% of the world’s earthquakes happen here. Taiwan is also near the region where the Eurasian plate and the Philippines plate meet. This has led to earthquakes near Hualien in Taiwan’s east coast in the past.

 Also read | In pictures | Taiwan rocked by strongest earthquake in nearly 25 years

Taiwan’s experience with past earthquakes equipped its government to deal with this week’s earthquake better. Building codes were revised after 1999 to ensure quake-resistance. Rescue teams were mobilised quickly. Coordination between local authorities and non-government organisations was strengthened.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 31 posted on social media platform ‘X’ that he blamed the Congress for “callously” giving away Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka. He cited a media report on documents received in response to a Right to Information Act application from K. Annamalai, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Tamil Nadu president.

Soon after, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a media conference, in which he sought to elaborate on Mr. Modi’s allegation. Calling for a “solution”, he said the bilateral agreements signed by India and Sri Lanka in 1974 and 1976, when the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) were in power respectively at the Centre and in Tamil Nadu, displayed indifference about Katchatheevu island, and compromised Indian fishermen’s rights in the Palk Strait separating India and Sri Lanka.