Taiwan: 6.5-magnitude earthquake shakes buildings in Taipei, kills 1

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake has hit Taiwan, shaking buildings in the capital Taipei and killing one person.

The quake followed another which jolted the southern Philippines late Saturday, injuring at least nine people, according to the Associated Press.

The powerful tremor sent people running into the streets and was also felt in Hong Kong, more than 400 miles away, officials said Sunday.

The quake struck 24 miles southeast of the city of T'ai-chung at a depth of nine miles, Reuters cited the US Geological Survey as saying.

The agency initially said it was 6.6 magnitude but later downgraded it slightly.

Reuters cited the National Fire Agency as saying a man was killed in Mountain Ali, in the southern part of the island, by a rockslide while driving a car on a mountain road.

Helicopters had reportedly been sent to scout the epicentre area for more casualties and to inspect damage information.

Nantou county was the epicentre of a 7.6-magnitude quake in September 21, 1999 that killed around 2400 people in the deadliest natural disaster in the island’s recent history