Taipei, Aug. 18 (CNA) The magnitude 4.8 and magnitude 5.0 earthquakes, along with minor ones, that struck Nantou county in central Taiwan on Friday evening and Saturday morning, are a normal release of energy, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said, but added that it will pay close attention to whether there will be bigger tremors in the near future.

Two major earthquakes, measuring magnitude 4.8 and magnitude 5.0 on the Richter's scale, struck Nantou, both with an epicenter in Puli Township.

Since the magnitude 4.8 temblor, there have also been five smaller earthquakes jolting the region as of noon Saturday; they measure between magnitude 3.1 to 4.1, according to CWB data.

The earthquakes represent a normal release of energy from friction between the Philippine and the Eurasian tectonic plates, the CWB said.

But it said it did not rule out the possibility of greater earthquakes in the coming days, adding that it will pay close attention to the matter.

(By Lee Hsin-Yin)
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