TAIPEI – Two earthquakes with preliminary magnitudes of 5.8 and 5.5 have hit the coast of northeast Taiwan on Thursday, with shaking felt across Yilan County and the capital Taipei.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the first quake struck in the morning at a depth of 17.5 kilometres. At least two aftershocks followed, according to Taiwan’s central weather bureau.

The second quake was reportedly centred 14 kilometres northeast of the coastal town of Su-ao, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Earthquakes are common in Taiwan. In February, a 6.4-magnitude quake toppled a large apartment complex in southern Taiwan killing more than 100 people.

The island’s worst quake disaster was in September 1999 when a 7.6-magnitude earthquake killed around 2,400 people.

– TiVi Tuan-san