5.9-magnitude quake rattles Taiwan

Firefighters were dispatched to check the impact of the moderate quake, which hit 71 kilometers (44 miles) south of Hualien City.

It struck off the island’s east coast at a depth of about 31 kilometers, the USGS said.

“When the earthquake struck, the computer screen and fan shook heavily,” said a firefighter in the coastal town of Chenggong.

“It was much stronger than previous quakes. I immediately thought about running outside,” he told AFP.

The Hualien and Taitung fire departments told AFP there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Evening services along the eastern railway line were running normally after the quake, which the USGS reported hit at 7:00 pm (1100 GMT).

Taitung firefighter Andrew Liu said 25 firefighters, including volunteers, and five vehicles had been dispatched to coastal areas closest to the epicenter to check for damage.

“Because the area is remote and distances between locations are long, it will take more time to reach each site,” Liu told AFP.