An analysis by a Japanese seismologist shows that when Taiwan was hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Wednesday, irregular ruptures of underground faults likely spread in the area.

Tsukuba University Professor Yagi Yuji, who specializes in seismology, analyzed the movement of underground faults based on seismometer data taken from around the globe.

Results of the analysis show that the fault moved one after another, stretching about 110 kilometers in about 40 seconds near the coast of eastern Taiwan.

His analysis shows that approximately 4 seconds after the earthquake hit, major ruptures started off the coast of Hualien County near the quake's epicenter.

Four seconds later, major ruptures started in an area 30 kilometers to the northeast and it is believed to have expanded to the entire area.

Another 16 seconds later, ruptures started in an area roughly 60 kilometers to the southwest.

Professor Yagi says that irregular ruptures of the fault may have affected the way the tremor was transmitted.

He says that, contrary to what many people might have thought, fault ruptures in this earthquake were not spreading in concentric circles from the epicenter, but were spreading irregularly.

He says it is important to keep that possibility in mind in providing projections on where the tremor of an earthquake may spread.

He warns that people in the afflicted area need to be on full alert since Taiwan lies near the junction, where two tectonic plates on the land side and sea side collide with each other and where earthquakes are likely to occur.