Earthquake strikes sea off south of Taiwan

An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale was detected in the sea area south of Taiwan at 5:04 a.m. Monday.

The China earthquake observation network recorded the epicenter at 120.2 degrees east longitude and 22 degrees north latitude, according to the China Seismological Bureau.

The epicenter was about 320 km off the nearest coastline of the Chinese mainland and about 40 km from the coastline of Taiwan.

Mainland areas have not been affected by the earthquake, said the seismological bureau, reporting no casualties in Taiwan.

Two earthquakes -- the first measuring 7.2 on the Richter scaleand the second measuring 6.7 -- hit this sea area on Dec. 26, 2006,killing two people and disrupting marine optical fiber cables.

Three aftershocks measuring over five on the Richter scale were also reported on the same date.

People in China's Fujian and Guangdong provinces felt the quakes, which were felt strongly in some areas. There were no reports of human casualties.

Source: Xinhua