An earthquake measuring 5,8 on the Richter scale rocked Taiwan on Tuesday as the island struggled with the aftermath of massive floods that have claimed at least 23 lives.
The quake struck at 3.32 pm local time, with an epicentre about 49km northeast of Suao along the northeastern coast. Its focus was 9,8km below sea level.
The tremor shook high-rise buildings in Taipei and some northern cities, but seismologists said they did not expect serious damage.
Meanwhile, authorities were coping with the aftermath of weekend floods and mudslides left in the wake of Typhoon Mindulle.
The national rescue centre said 23 people were killed and 13 missing in the floods described by many as the worst they have ever seen.
Authorities said the floods have caused greater destruction to property than a massive quake in September 1999 that killed 2 400 people.
Agricultural damage from the floods was estimated at 5,1-billion Taiwan dollars ($155-million).
Helicopters on Tuesday continued dropping provisions to hundreds of villagers stranded in their homes in remote mountains in central and southern Taiwan after roads were buried by mud and rocks.
Authorities announced financial aid packages to flood victims while several thousand volunteers and troops help to clean up the aftermath.
Heavy rainfall in the wake of Typhoon Mindulle washed away bridges, inundated farmland and triggered landslides that buried homes and cut power and water supplies.
Weathermen meanwhile warned of further downpours this week to add to the woes of already flood-stricken areas. — Sapa-AFP