Moderate earthquake hits near eastern Taiwan coast

Image of  Taiwan's Quake March 3 2010

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP): Officials say a moderate earthquake has struck near the eastern coast of Taiwan. No casualties or damage have been reported.

Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau says the earthquake hit at 4 p.m. (0800 GMT) Sunday and was centered 28 miles (45 kilometers) from Taitung county and about 185 miles (300 kilometers) southeast of Taipei. It says the quake registered magnitude 5.9, while the U.S. Geological Survey measured it at 5.5.

Earthquakes frequently hit Taiwan but most are minor and cause little or no damage.

However, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people.