Taiwan

Magnitude-5.7 earthquake hits northern Taiwan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-30 17:55

TAIPEI - An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted Ilan County near the northeastern coast of Taiwan at 4:35 pm Beijing Time Saturday, according to the island's weather bureau.

The epicenter was monitored at 5.5 km southeast of Ilan's county seat, with a depth of 76 kilometers, according to a statement released by the bureau.

Most parts of the island were affected but no casualty had been reported as of 5:30 pm, the statement said.

Taiwan has seen four earthquakes above 5.5 on Richter scale so far this year, the island's weather bureau said.

As to Saturday's quake, the Beijing-based China Earthquake Network Center gave a slightly different report with the scale measuring 5.0 and the epicenter lying at a depth of about 60 km.