Powerful earthquake jolts island

A strong earthquake rattled Taiwan today, according to seismologists.

No damage or injuries were immediately reported.

The Central Weather Bureau said the magnitude 6.8 quake was centred near Hualien, 108 miles east of Taipei.

In Taipei, buildings were rocking back and forth, and startled people fled from homes and churches. Cracks appeared in walls of many buildings.

The powerful tremor struck just off the coast off the eastern coastal county of Hualien, the Central Weather Bureau said.

Tremors frequently shake the island, but most cause little or no damage. However, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in September 1999 killed 2,378 people and destroyed more than 40,000 homes.