Moderate quake hits off Taiwan

A moderate 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit off eastern Taiwan on Monday, the central weather bureau said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The undersea tremor struck at 4:33 am (2033 GMT Sunday) and was centred 17.8 kilometres (11.04 miles) southeast of Yuli in the eastern county of Hualien, the bureau said.

It occurred at a depth of 19.4 kilometres under the sea floor, it said.

Taiwan, which lies near the junction of two tectonic plates, is regularly shaken by earthquakes.