Taiwan has experienced frequent earthquakes recently. Today (February 20), a magnitude 4 earthquake occurred in Chiayi at noon. Since February 16, there have been 25 earthquakes (including minor regional tremors) within five days, affecting areas including Yilan, Hualien, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.
Recently, residents in Kaohsiung reported sightings of large numbers of earthworms, creating a densely packed scene that caused unease, with some people linking it to potential earthquake activity. However, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) has clarified that there is no proven correlation between earthworm appearances and earthquakes.
On February 16, a user posted in the Facebook group "Kaohsiung Wujia Matters" reporting a large number of earthworms near Hongmaogang Elementary School in Kaohsiung's Qianzhen District: "The entire road is covered, making it difficult to walk." The surrounding open spaces, roads, and arcades were filled with earthworms lying on the ground, resembling tree branches from a distance. Many netizens expressed feelings of disgust and horror, with some noting a "corpse-like smell in the air."
Due to the large number of earthworms, many died and became stuck on the roads, prompting residents to notify the borough chief for assistance. According to a World Journal report, Wang Chun-mao, the borough chief of Mingzheng Village, contacted the Environmental Protection Bureau, which dispatched street sweepers to rinse and clean the streets to remove the earthworms. Some residents expressed concern: "Is this a sign of an impending earthquake or flood? Everyone should be careful," and "I saw earthworms all over the ground before the 921 earthquake, it's really scary," and "This is a bit frightening, a precursor to a natural disaster."
Despite the unsettling sight of the earthworms and the association with natural disasters like earthquakes, the Central Weather Administration has cited statistical studies stating that there is "no clear relationship" between earthworm swarms and natural disasters! The CWA explained that ground temperature, relative humidity, sunshine duration, and air pressure could all be factors causing earthworms to surface. Furthermore, the locations of abnormal earthworm activity do not align with areas of frequent earthquakes. Earthworms tend to appear in large numbers in eastern and southern Taiwan during October and November, while earthquakes in Taiwan are most frequent in the northeast and show no distinct seasonal pattern.
