6.1-magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan, shaking buildings in Taipei, killing one

An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck Taiwan on Wednesday, reportedly killing one person and injuring 19.

The quake hit in the central region of Nantou county, 95 miles south of the capital, at 10:03 a.m. local time, Bloomberg reported, citing Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau.

It is the same region hit by a 1999 quake measuring 7.3-magnitude that according to the Associated Press killed around 2,300 people.

Taiwan is regularly hit by small earthquakes and evacuation procedures are well-practiced.

Buildings are also earthquake-proofed, meaning damage from Wednesday's earthquakes was minimal.

Still, many buildings in Taipei reportedly swayed while TV footage showed some school children in Nantou fleeing their classrooms during the quake as well as supermarket staff cleaned up contents fell from sales racks.

Taiwan's high speed rail company suspended all trains for more than four hours while the metro system in the capital Taipei was also temporarily suspended.

There were at least five aftershocks as strong as magnitude 4.3 from Wednesday's quake, the strongest since a 6.2 magnitude tremor hit on Dec. 8. 

The sole fatality was a 72-year-old woman killed by a collapsed temple wall, Dow Jones Newswire reported, citing Taiwan's National Fire Agency. At least 19 people were injured.