Powerful quake rattles Taiwan

"TAIPEI (AFP) - A powerful earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan, rattling the capital Taipei but without causing any casualties or damage.

The quake measured 7.0 on the Richter scale and struck at 11:51pm (1551 GMT) with an epicentre around 250 kilometres (155 miles) east of the capital in the East China Sea, the Taiwanese Seismology Centre said Saturday. The centre initially estimated the temblor at 6.5 on the Richter scale. An official from the seismology centre said that the quake's impact was reduced because it struck around 180 kilometres under the sea bed. The US Geological Survey and Hong Kong Observatory both gave the quake as 6.6 on the Richter scale.

Taiwan, lying near the junction of two tectonic plates, is shaken regularly by earthquakes. The country's worst, measuring 7.6 on the Richter sale, struck in September 1999 and left some 2,400 people dead."

So there I was, sitting on the couch reading Gone with the Wind when my apartment began to sway. Then it stopped. Then it immediately started again, a little stronger. "Hm, earthquake," I says to meself, as I watch the cat staring around with wide eyes. The floor lamp gradually settled back to a stationary position, and I kept reading.

Anyway, all is well, thanks to the quake being so far out to sea and not right under our feet. Let us hope that none decide to pay us a closer visit.