An earthquake hit Taiwan on Monday morning. It lasted around one minute, shook buildings and measured 6.3 on the Richter Scale. In Taipei, it measured 3.0 on the scale. But, across the island, damage was minimal.
That is to be expected these days. Since the event known simply as '921', a handful of big earthquakes have struck Taiwan, some causing damage, most not. But 921 was the big one, the one against which all others are judged.
Rolling across the island in the wee hours of September 21, 1999, that quake killed more than 2,400 people and left thousands homeless. Those who were on the island will never forget it. It has developed a resonance in local history, a 'Where were you when it happened?' notoriety.
When the latest quake struck, a few people ducked for cover. Generally speaking, though, colleagues laughed it off, telling each other they had 'enjoyed the ride'. The reason for the complacency is really quite simple: people think that, after 921, all the buildings that could collapse have already come down. Shaken to the ground by the big one - or by half a dozen follow-ups in the years since - any unworthy building has already been condemned by gravity.
It is true that some may have been weakened by the first, and second, and third - and now may be ready to give way - but that is not a widespread fear.
It is also true that five people died last year when two construction cranes fell off the Taipei 101 tower. But they were temporary structures on a new half-finished building, which makes the incident an anomaly.
