Taiwan:6.2 magnitude earthquake hits eastern part

A strong earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan on Monday evening with shaking felt in the capital Taipei, but authorities said there were no immediate reports of widespread damage or injuries. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake measured 6.2 in magnitude and hit at a depth of 28 kilometres (17 miles).The quake struck off the coast at around 5.46pm (local time), with epicentre identified around 56 kilometres east of Hualien County Hall, the weather bureau said. The focal depth of the earthquake was 19.4 km. The shaking lasted for a good 20 seconds with the ground moving left and right, AFP quoted its reporter in Taipei as saying.

Taiwan is regularly hit by earthquakes as the island lies near the junction of two tectonic plates. Some earthquakes of this magnitude can prove deadly, although much depends on where the quake strikes and at what depth. Hualien, a scenic tourist hotspot, was struck by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in 2018 that killed 17 people and injured nearly 300. Chen Kuo-chang, head of the central weather bureau's seismological centre, said Taiwan experiences an average 2.5 quakes a year that are magnitude 6.0 or higher.