Taiwan also issued a tsunami warning, but reported no damage from that, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii later said the risk of damaging tsunami waves had passed.
Aftershocks could still be felt in Taipei, with more than 50 aftershocks registered, according to Taiwan’s central weather administration.
Chinese state media said the quake was felt in China’s Fujian province, while a Reuters witness said it was also felt in Shanghai.
Electricity operator Taipower said most power had been restored, adding that the island’s two nuclear power stations were not affected by the temblor.
Taiwan’s high speed rail operator said no damage or injuries were reported on its trains, but noted trains will be delayed while it carries out inspections.
Semiconductor giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, a major Apple and Nvidia supplier, said it had evacuated some fabrication plants and its safety systems were operating normally.
“To ensure the safety of personnel, some fabs were evacuated according to company procedure. We are currently confirming the details of the impact,” according to the company.
It later added that those evacuated were beginning to return to their workplaces.
Taiwan’s benchmark share index largely brushed off the impact of the earthquake, closing down 0.6 per cent. TSMC’s Taipei-listed shares ended down 1.3 percent.
Taiwan’s official central news agency said the quake was the biggest to hit the island since 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude tremor killed around 2,400 people and destroyed or damaged 50,000 buildings in one of Taiwan’s worst-recorded quakes.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said the earthquake registered the second-highest intensity of an “Upper 6” in Hualien county, on the 1-7 intensity scale.
In an Upper 6 earthquake, most unreinforced concrete-block walls collapse and people find it impossible to remain standing or move without crawling, the Japan Meteorological Agency says.
