USGS: 5.7-magnitude earthquake off east Taiwan, felt strongly in Taipei

TAIPEI – A 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Taiwan on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, and was felt strongly in the capital Taipei.

The quake struck around 104 kilometers (66 miles) off the coast of the port city of Hualien, in the east of the island, at a depth of 34 kilometers at 12:34 p.m. (0434 GMT).

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Taiwan’s central weather bureau measured the quake at 6.0 magnitude.

Local media said the quake had been felt all over the island.

Hualien was hit by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake in February this year which killed 17 people.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

The island’s worst tremor in recent decades was a 7.6 magnitude quake in September 1999 that killed around 2,400 people. /kga