Moderate 5.5 quake strikes off Taiwan

TAIPEI: A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan Sunday shaking buildings in the capital, seismologists said, but there were no reports of damage and a tsunami warning was not issued.

The undersea quake hit at 16:00 local time (0800 GMT) about 44 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of Taitung city in the southeast, at a relatively shallow depth of 17 kms, the US Geological Survey said.

Taiwan's Seismology Centre measured the quake at 5.9 magnitude.

Buildings in the Taipei swayed and the quake was felt across the island but the National Fire Agency said there were no casualties or damage.