A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan Friday, said the local weather bureau. So far no report of casualties was available. The quake occurred at 10:42 am about 37.1 kilometers northwest of Hualien on the east coast, with its epicenter 14 kilometers underground, Xinhua quoted the bureau as saying. The island's Nantou county registered the greatest intensity at 4, the bureau said. The tremor lasted about five seconds and was felt throughout the island.
