Undersea quake jolts Taiwan

TAIPEI (AFP) Jan 01, 2004
An undersea earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale rocked Taiwan Thursday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, seismologists said.

The tremor hit at 11:15 am (0315 GMT) with an epicenter 33.5 kilometers (20.77 miles) east of Yuli in eastern Hualien county, 17.8 kilometers below sea level, according to the Seismology Center.

A quake with a magnitude of 6.6 jolted Taiwan on December 10 -- the most powerful one to have hit the island this year -- but left only minor damage and injuries in some southern cities.

TERRA.WIRE