6.6-magnitude earthquake strikes off coast of Taiwan

A strong earthquake struck off the coast of Taiwan early Monday, causing some damage on land.

The 6.6-magnitude earthquake was located some 47 miles (76 kilometers) east-northeast of Hualian, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported that the tremors were felt across the island, including in the capital, Taipei.

An 84-year-old man died in a fire in Taipei’s Xinzhuang district that city authorities said they suspected was caused by the quake.

The electrical transformer blaze also resulted in the hospitalization of a 28-year-old man for smoke inhalation, officials said.

The earthquake damaged water pipes in Shulin district, flooding some roads and disrupting traffic, according to the Taipei city government.

The quake had a reported depth of 18 miles (28.9 kilometers). Initially, the USGS had estimated the depth at 0.6 miles (1 kilometer).

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