Moderate earthquake hits Taiwan

A moderate 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

A moderate 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

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The undersea quake hit at 1653 GMT, with an epicentre 70 kilometres south-southeast of the southern city of Kaohsiung at a depth of 1.7 kilometres.

Taiwan is regularly hit by earthquakes as the island lies near the junction of two tectonic plates. A 7.6-magnitude quake killed around 2,400 people in September 1999.