Strong 6.2-magnitude quake strikes off Taiwan

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan on Friday, the island's central weather bureau said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan on Friday, the island's central weather bureau said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

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The undersea quake hit at 21:12 (local time) about 195 kilometres (120 miles) southeast of Taitung county at a depth of 178 kilometres, the bureau said.

The US Geological Survey measured the quake at a magnitude of 5.5.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

In September 1999, a 7.6-magnitude tremor killed around 2,400 people in the deadliest natural disaster in the island's recent history.