1906 Meishan earthquake
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| Date | March 17, 1906 |
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| Origin time | 06:43 local time |
| Magnitude | 7.1 ML |
| Depth | 6 km (4 mi) |
| Epicenter | 23°33′N 120°27′E / 23.55°N 120.45°ECoordinates: 23°33′N 120°27′E / 23.55°N 120.45°E |
| Areas affected | Taiwan, Empire of Japan |
| Max. intensity | IX (Violent) |
| Casualties | 1,258 dead 2,385 injured |
The 1906 Meishan earthquake (Chinese: 1906年梅山地震; pinyin: 1906 nián Měishān Dìzhèn) was centered on Moe'akhe (Chinese: 梅仔坑; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Môe-á-kheⁿ), Kagi-cho, Japanese Taiwan (modern-day Meishan, Chiayi County, Taiwan) and occurred on March 17. Referred to at the time as the Great Kagi earthquake (Chinese: 嘉義大地震; pinyin: Jiāyì Dà Dìzhèn), it is the third-deadliest earthquake in Taiwan's recorded history, claiming around 1,260 lives. The shock had a Richter magnitude of 7.1 and a Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).
The earthquake struck at 06:43 local time on March 17, 1906, with a Richter magnitude of 7.1 and a focal depth of 6 kilometres (4 mi). The event created the Meishan fault, a fault line with a length of 25 kilometres (16 mi) stretching through modern-day Chiayi County. Aftershocks continued throughout the day, hampering rescue efforts.
Reports vary slightly, but according to the official Central Weather Bureau summary, the casualties and damage were as follows:
Fusakichi Omori, a pioneering seismologist from Japan who arrived shortly after the earthquake believed that the high number of casualties was due to the construction of the local houses. Loosely cemented with mud, the combination of sun-dried mud brick walls and heavy roofing beams was thought to be responsible for many dwellings collapsing, killing or injuring the inhabitants. He also found evidence of soil liquefaction, and stated that the town of Bishō (Meishan) had been completely destroyed by the quake.
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