The tremor hit at 7:07 pm (1107 GMT) with an epicenter 18.7 kilometers (11.22 miles) northeast of the southeastern Taitung city and originating 25.2 kilometers under the ground, 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 caused only minor injuries and damage in some southern cities.

TERRA.WIRE