TAIPEI (AFP, KYODO, AP) - The Straits Times/ANN - A 5.9-magnitude earthquake rattled Taiwan on Thursday morning (Aug 8), the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of injuries and casualties.
The quake struck at 5.28am at a depth of 10km in north-eastern Yilan county.
Taiwan's central weather bureau put its magnitude at 6.0. High-rises swayed in the capital Taipei, waking people up from their sleep.
The bureau later issued a warning for residents of Yilan, as well as Taipei and surrounding areas in the north and along the east coast in advance of Typhoon Lekima.
High winds and heavy rain were expected during the day, with the typhoon packing maximum sustained winds of 184km/h gusting up to 227km/h. It was forecast to edge toward mainland China on Friday.
Television reports showed goods knocked off grocery store shelves and slight structural damage to buildings.
The authorities said the quake was felt across Taiwan, causing power outages to more than 1,300 houses in the greater Taipei area. The Taiwan Railways Administration has suspended some services in Yilan, a popular tourist hotspot.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen issued a statement urging people to remain calm, saying the authorities were looking into any possible damage from the quake.
A temblor was also felt on the Japanese island of Yonaguni, about 110km east of Taiwan, at around the same time, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by quakes.
In April, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit the island, disrupting traffic and injuring 17 people.
Taiwan's worst tremor in recent decades was a 7.6-magnitude quake in September 1999 that killed around 2,400 people.
