Moderate earthquake hits off eastern Taiwan

Taipei: Taiwan`s Central Weather
Bureau says a moderate earthquake has struck off the eastern
coast of the island. There have been no immediate reports of
casualties or damage.

The bureau says the quake registered magnitude 5.4,
while the US Geological Survey puts it at 5.0.

The quake hit at 12:37 am today (1637 GMT Saturday),
the bureau says. It says the earthquake was centred 35
kilometres east off eastern Taiwanese county of Hualien, some
135 kilometres southeast of the capital.

Earthquakes frequently rattle Taiwan but most are
minor and cause little or no damage.

However, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in central Taiwan
in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people.

PTI