A magnitude 5.8 earthquake followed quickly by another 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Taiwan on Sunday, the island’s meteorological office 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 County, on the east coast of Taiwan, sparsely populated and mountainous, the office said. .
The second earthquake, three minutes after the first, had a depth of 14 km, also with its epicenter in Hualien, he said, adding that there are likely to be aftershocks.
Taiwanese media said guests of Hualien City hotels ran out into the street after the quakes. Hualien is a popular tourist destination.
The transportation ministry said operations on the island’s high-speed rail line, which runs off the west coast of Taiwan, were unaffected.
The Taipei city government said the subway system was operating normally after it was briefly ordered that trains be slowed down.
The fire department said it had not received any damage reports.
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 killed more than 2,000 people in 1999.
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