An earthquake of magnitude 6 point 4 has shaken Taiwan, injuring 64, halting transport and causing minor damage and fires on the southern half of the island.

 

Landslides were reported in Kaohsiung county. The epicenter of the quake was in the mountains northeast of the city of Kaohsiung at a depth of 5 kilometers.

The quake also sparked off five fires, including one at a textile factory, and caused 16 elevators to become stuck, including some in a hospital.

A patient said, "My residence is on a higher floor level, so I fell and broke my leg."

A bridge was also closed and half a million households were left without electricity.

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou visited Tainan county, where a magnitude 6 tremor was recorded.

Ma Ying-jeou said, "According to past experience, after an earthquake, some damage can be hidden and not spotted right away, especially on the mountain slopes, once the soil has loosened up, when rain pours down it becomes a landslide, or even without a heavy rainfall they may still collapse, so residents in the disaster areas must be careful."

A spokesman for Ma Ying-jeou says authorities have been instructed to follow the quake situation closely and take steps to mitigate damage and dislocation.