Taipei [Taiwan], December 28: A magnitude-7.0 earthquake jolted Taiwan late Saturday and was felt by residents across the whole island, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).
The quake hit at 11:05pm (1505 GMT) at a depth of 72.8 kilometres, with its epicentre located offshore north-eastern Taiwan, the agency said.
Residents received earthquake alerts on their mobile phones as the powerful tremor struck.
The quake was felt most strongly in Yilan County, where it rated 4 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale. In the capital, Taipei, residents felt the shaking for several seconds.
Local media reports said some ceilings collapsed and supermarket shelves toppled. Rail operators temporarily slowed some train and high-speed rail services as a precaution. There were no immediate reports of serious injuries or major damage.
Taiwan is prone to earthquakes as it lies along the boundary between the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate. (DPA)
Source:Qatar Tribune