Strong earthquake rocks Taiwan

Beijing, Sep 18 (EFE).- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook Taitung County in southeastern Taiwan on Sunday, a day after a powerful but relatively lesser intensity tremor rocked the island.

Authorities reported no casualties due to the quake and several aftershocks on the self-governing island off China’s east coast.

The seismology center, using Taiwan’s 7-tier intensity scale, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 7 km at 2.44 pm local time, with its epicenter in Chishang township, some 43 km north of Taitung city.

A 6.6 magnitude quake hit the same region on Saturday. There have been multiple aftershocks since then.

The state-run Central News Agency said the quake hit 6+ in Chishang and Yuli Township in nearby Hualien County, shaking buildings and furniture and forcing people to come out on roads.

Early reports indicate a 7-11 convenience store collapsed in Yuli. But the emergency services did not immediately confirm whether there were any casualties.

Taiwan sits at the junction of the Philippine and Eurasian tectonic plates and is frequently hit by earthquakes. EFE

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