6.7-magnitude quake rattles Taiwan

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Taiwan's Hualien county Thursday evening, the China Earthquake Networks Centre said.

The epicenter, with a depth of 20 km, was at 23.5 degrees north latitude and 121.4 degrees east longitude, Xinhua reported citing a statement from the centre.

Taiwan's meteorological authorities put the quake at 6.3 magnitude and monitored the epicentre with a depth of 19.5 km, adding that there have so far been no reports of casualties.

The island's meteorological authorities reported seven aftershocks measuring between three-four magnitude in Hualien following the first quake.

A woman was hit on the head by falling materials in a supermarket in Hualien and was sent to hospital.

Railway services in Taiwan were suspended for several minutes and later resumed, but are running at a slower speed.

A contingent headquarters has been set up in the eastern part of Taiwan to deal with possible emergency situations.

A piece from the ceiling of Taoyuan Airport fell during the quake, causing some panic but no casualties.

The tremors were also felt in parts of Fujian province in China.