An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale hit the sea off the east coast of Ilan in Taiwan at 8:30 p.m. local time Sunday, according to the seismic monitoring center of the island's weather bureau.

Monitored at 24.72 degrees north latitude and 121.93 degrees east longitude, the epicenter was located at the sea about 16.8 kilometers to the east of Ilan, with a depth of 70 kilometers.

Xinhua reporters at a hotel in Taipei also felt the quake.

There have been no reports of casualties or property losses on the island from the quake.