More than 190 aftershocks follow strong quake

Fourteen of the aftershocks reached magnitude 3 or stronger, but most of the others were undetectable to humans, according to Kuo Kai-wen, director of the Seismological Center under the Central Weather Bureau.

More aftershocks, some of which might reach magnitude 5, are expected to follow in the coming two weeks, Kuo went on. He urged the public not to panic over the situation, which he described as a natural release of energy.

The earthquake, which had its epicenter in Mingchien township, Nantou County at a depth of 19.3 k.m., was the strongest tremor in terms of intensity to hit Taiwan since the devastating magnitude-7.3 earthquake of Sept. 21, 1999.

No major damage was reported.

Meanwhile that day, a magnitude-4.4 earthquake struck at 3: 25 a.m. in the eastern county of Hualien, seismologists said.

The quake, which was centered 2.4 km northwest of Hualien City at a depth of 6.5 km, was unrelated to the ones in Nantou, they said.

There were no reports of casualties or damage.

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