Taiwan rattled by magnitude-7 quake; Taipei buildings shake

emirates7 - Damage assessment was underway, the National Fire Agency said; Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck around 32km off Taiwan's northeastern coastal city of Yilan late on Saturday, the island's weather administration said.

The quake shook buildings in the capital Taipei and had a depth of 73 km, it added. The Taipei city government said there were no immediate reports of major damage.

Damage assessment was underway, the National Fire Agency said. Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes.

More than 100 people were killed in a quake in southern Taiwan in 2016, while a 7.3-magnitude quake killed more than 2,000 people in 1999.