TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A magnitude 5.6 earthquake rocked Taiwan on Thursday morning, shaking buildings across the island. This tremor was part of a series of earthquakes that struck the region, resulting in minimal damage but raising concerns about potential further seismic activity in the coming days.

The most significant quake occurred at 10:11 a.m. local time (0211 GMT) in Dapu township, located in Chiayi County, at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles). According to data from the Central Weather Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter was roughly 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Taiwan's capital, Taipei, where residents reported slight swaying of buildings.

Following the main quake, Dapu experienced at least a dozen smaller aftershocks. These aftershocks can be traced back to a more powerful magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck the same region on January 21, resulting in minor injuries for 15 people and causing damage to various buildings and a highway bridge.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported from Thursday's quake. However, emergency crews were dispatched to clean up tiles and signage that had fallen from buildings due to the shaking. Train services across the island’s north-south high-speed rail system were temporarily suspended for 70 minutes to conduct safety checks, and trains operating at slower speeds also reduced their pace during this period.

Thursday marked a peak travel day during the weeklong Lunar New Year festival, increasing the importance of safety measures and effective communication in light of the seismic activities.

In April of the previous year, a significantly stronger earthquake, measuring magnitude 7.4, struck the eastern coastal county of Hualien, leading to the tragic loss of at least 13 lives and injuring over 1,000 individuals. That earthquake resulted in the collapse of a hotel and the closure of Toroko National Park, making it the most powerful earthquake in Taiwan in 25 years, followed by hundreds of aftershocks.

Taiwan is currently experiencing a heightened period of seismic activity. Experts suggest that while further aftershocks or new quakes may occur, they are likely to be of lower intensity and not cause substantial destruction. Kuo Kai-wen, the former head of the Central Weather Agency's Seismological Center, noted, "This was a third wave of quakes, and if there is a fourth wave it will likely be smaller."

Geographically, Taiwan is situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region known for its seismic faults that encircle the Pacific Ocean, from Chile to New Zealand, where a significant majority of the world's earthquakes occur.

The catastrophic magnitude 7.7 earthquake in 1999 resulted in the deaths of 2,415 individuals and caused damage to numerous buildings throughout the island's population of 23 million. That disaster prompted revisions to building codes, improved response times and coordination, as well as widespread public education campaigns focusing on earthquake safety.

In preparation for potential seismic events, schools and workplaces routinely conduct earthquake drills, while alerts are sent to cellphones whenever a strong earthquake is detected, demonstrating Taiwan's commitment to public safety in the face of natural threats.