Earthquake Rattles Taiwan, Triggers Landslide

2010-08-31 1

An earthquake hits Taiwan, triggering a landslide in Taipei. No casualties have been reported so far.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 hit Taiwan late on Monday, shaking buildings in the capital Taipei for several seconds.

The earthquake caused a landslide in Taipei, uprooting trees and blocking one road.

[Unidentified Resident]:
"When the earthquake happened it was not so bad. I was working on the sewers used for the rainwater outside. But then I heard a very loud noise. So I walked over to see what happened. Then I saw the landslide."

Police have set up barriers on the road and redirected part of the traffic.

There are no reports of casualties.

Earthquakes occur frequently in Taiwan, which lies on a seismically active stretch of the Pacific basin.

Meanwhile, the island was also expecting a severe tropical storm late Tuesday, the first this year. Officials have issued land and sea warnings.