Moderate quake jolts Taiwan: weather bureau

A 5.5-magnitude quake struck east of Taiwan on Saturday, the central weather bureau said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The undersea tremor hit at 11:44 am (0344 GMT), 77 kilometres (48 miles) southeast of eastern Ilan county at a depth of 11 kilometres, the bureau said.

Taiwan, which lies near the junction of two tectonic plates, is regularly shaken by earthquakes. A 7.6-magnitude quake killed about 2,400 people in September 1999.

First Published: Jun 20, 2009 10:39 IST