Taipei - A strong earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan on Thursday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, seismologists and police said.

'The quake with a depth of 5 kilometres occurred undersea at 6:59 pm (1059 GMT). It was located 61.9 kilometres south-east of Taitung in eastern Taiwan,' the Earthquake Centre under the Central Weather Bureau said in a news release.

The tremor was felt in eastern, southern and central Taiwan, with Taitung and Hualien in the east being the most affected areas, the centre said.

Police and residents said no damage or casualties were caused by the quake.

Earthquakes are quite common in Taiwan, which is situated in a geologically unstable area.

On December 26, a powerful quake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale shook the island, killing two people and injuring more than 50.

It also caused extensive disruptions in internet service across the continent after four of the six fibre optic undersea telecommunications cables near the southern coast of Taiwan were damaged.