3 Jun 2013

Earthquake in Taiwan

5:05 am on 3 June 2013

A strong earthquake hit Taiwan on Sunday afternoon, killing one person and injuring 21 others.

Officials said the quake sent people running into the streets as buildings shook in the capital Taipei. It was also felt in Hong Kong, more than 700km away.

Taiwan's Seismology Centre measured its magnitude at 6.3, while the US Geological Survey put it at 6.2.

The quake occurred at 1.43pm, centred 32km east of the central county of Nantou at a depth of 10km. It was followed by a series of aftershocks.

The National Fire Agency said a mountain climber was killed after he was hit by falling rocks on Mount Ali in central Taiwan. Three other people were severely injured.

A male angler was buried by rubble in Chushan Town. The NFA said the chances of finding him alive were slim.

TV broadcasts showed widespread landslides and clouds of yellow dust on mountains in the area.

"This is the biggest earthquake to hit this year," said Seismology Centre deputy chief Lu Pei-ling.

"Today's earthquake was somewhat related to the 1999 one."

Nantou county was the epicentre of a 7.6-magnitude quake on 21 September, 1999, that killed about 2400 people.