Strong quake rattles Taiwan
 
 

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- A strong, offshore earthquake of magnitude 7.0 has rattled Taiwan, shaking tall buildings in the capital during lunchtime.

The quake -- the strongest to hit Taiwan in five years -- had its epicenter under the ocean about 110 kilometers (70 miles) east of Taiwan's east coast harbor town of Su'ao, the Central Weather Bureau said.

Su'ao is 150 kilometers (90 miles) southeast of the capital Taipei.

There were no immediate details on damage or casualties.

The weather bureau said the temblor was the strongest to hit the island since a 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit central Taiwan in 1999, causing more than 2,300 deaths.

The quake rocked buildings for about one minute in Taipei.

On the city's streets, the quake caused sidewalks to go up and down slightly.

Earthquakes frequently hit Taiwan but usually cause little or no damage.
 

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/10/1/15/taiwan.quake.ap