Taiwan rocked by magnitude 5.0, 4.6 quakes off eastern counties

Taipei, Sept.15 (CNA) A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck at sea off Yilan County in northeastern Taiwan at 6:34:30 p.m. Friday, according to the Central Weather Administration.

The epicenter of the temblor was 38.4 kilometers south of Yilan County Hall, at a depth of 42.7 km, the administration said.

The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, was highest in Yilan and Hualien counties, where it measured a 4 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale.

The quake also measured a 3 in parts of Nantou County and Taichung, the administration said.

Around the same time at 6:34:26 p.m., a magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck at sea off Hualien County in eastern Taiwan, according to the administration.

The epicenter of the temblor was 8.8 km east-northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 23.6 km, the administration said.

The quake measured an intensity of 3 in Hualien and Yilan, it said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.