A magnitude 5.8 earthquake, quickly followed by another one at 6.2, hit eastern Taiwan on Sunday, the island’s weather agency said, with no reports of damage.
The first earthquake, which shook buildings in the capital Taipei, had a depth of 15 km (nine miles) with its epicenter in Hualien province on Taiwan’s sparsely populated and mountainous east coast, the agency said.
The second earthquake, three minutes after the first, had a depth of 14 km, also with its epicenter at Hualien, he said, adding that there would likely be aftershocks.
Taiwanese media said guests at hotels in Hualien city ran into the streets after the earthquakes. Hualien is a popular tourist destination.
The Ministry of Transportation said operations on the island’s high-speed rail line, which runs along Taiwan’s west coast, were unaffected.
Taipei city government said the metro system was operating normally after trains were briefly ordered to slow their speed.
The fire brigade said it had not received any reports of damage.
Taiwan is located near the junction of two tectonic plates in the South China Sea and is prone to earthquakes.
More than 100 people died in an earthquake in southern Taiwan in 2016, while a magnitude 7.3 earthquake in 1999 killed more than 2,000 people.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Principles of Trust.