BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific

Taiwan rocked by earthquake

The tremor caused high building to shake

No major damage or serious injuries have so far been reported, though a three-year-old boy was hurt by a falling television.

The earthquake measured 6.2 on the Richter scale.

Its epicentre was at sea, nine kilometres (six miles) off the north-eastern town of Suao, the Central Weather Bureau said.

Several aftershocks of up to 4.9 on the Richter scale followed the initial tremor.

Local television said residents fled their homes in Suao and office workers evacuated buildings in Ilan county, south of Taipei, after the earthquake struck at 1146 local time (0346 GMT).

The capital's subway system was briefly stopped.

Seismic activity

Earthquakes are common in Taiwan which lies in an area of strong seismic activity.

On 31 March, an earthquake killed five construction workers in Taipei and damaged hundreds of homes across the island.

Nearly three years ago, a much stronger earthquake killed 2,378 people and destroyed more than 40,000 homes in central Taiwan.

Seismologists expect more aftershocks to follow the latest tremor.