6.2-magnitude quake jolts off Taiwan, delays trains

TAIPEI/BEIJING -- An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale jolted southern Taiwan on Saturday morning, delaying trains that affected nearly 3,000 passengers.

The 6.2-magnitude earthquake wobbled areas off Taitung in eastern Taiwan at 4:06 am Saturday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter was monitored at 22.6 degrees north latitude and 121.5 degrees east longitude, or sea areas 33.6 km east of Taitung. The quake struck at a depth of 18.4 km, the center said.

There have been no casualties in the first earthquake above the 6.0-magnitude that hit Taiwan this year but railways operator said later at least 36 train services have been delayed as of 9:30 a.m. due to the earthquake.

All railway facilities were checked before normal operations resumed, which led to delays of up to 45 minutes, the railways company said, adding there will be no compensation for the passengers because the delays were caused by a natural disaster.

Taiwan's earthquake monitoring department said that the quake can be felt to different extent in all cities felt to varied intensities. An unnamed tourist near the Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan told Xinhua that the bed was shaking for about half a minute.

The quake was not clearly felt in Taipei.