Strong quake strikes off Taiwan's east coast

TAIPEI: A strong earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on Saturday (Sep 17), the US Geological Survey said, but there were no initial reports of casualties or damage.

The 6.5-magnitude quake hit just after 9.30pm about 50km north of the coastal city of Taitung at 10km deep, the USGS said.

Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau put the magnitude slightly lower at 6.4 but said it was shallower at 7.3km.

The quake could be felt across Taiwan, according to the island's weather bureau. Buildings shook briefly in the capital Taipei.

Taiwan's fire department said it had yet to receive any reports of damage.

Taitung county commissioner April Yao wrote on her Facebook page the quake was "extremely strong", while the official Central News Agency showed a picture of bottles that had been shaken off their shelves in a Taitung shop.

State-run utility Taipower said there was no interruption to electricity supply on Taiwan's east coast.

The science parks in the southern cities of Tainan and Kaohsiung, home to major semiconductor factories, said there was also no impact on operations.

Taiwan does not issue tsunami warnings unless a quake is more powerful than magnitude 7.0.

The USGS estimated there was a low likelihood of casualties on Saturday, but said some localised damage was possible.

Several smaller tremors of lower intensity were reported by the agency after the initial quake.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes.

More than 100 people were killed in a quake in southern Taiwan in 2016, while a 7.3 magnitude quake killed more than 2,000 people in 1999.