5.6-magnitude quake hits Taiwan; no casualties reported

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake jolted south Taiwan on Saturday morning, and no casualties were reported.

The quake hit the city of Kaohsiung at 1:12 a.m. Beijing Time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter, with a depth of about 20 km, was monitored at 22.85 degrees north latitude and 120.2 degrees east longitude, the center said.

Taiwan's weather authority also put the quake at 5.6 magnitude, adding that the quake occurred off the coast of neighboring Tainan city, where 117 people were killed after a building collapsed in a strong earthquake on Feb. 6 last year.

Residents in Tainan said they were woken up by the shake and saw things falling from ceilings. They dared not to sleep again and stayed outside overnight.

Electricity and water supply were temporarily cut in some areas of Tainan following the quake, but soon resumed, according to local authorities.

Minor aftershocks were monitored both in Tainan and Kaohsiung.

(APD)