Taiwanese authorities say a moderate earthquake has struck the eastern part of the island, rattling buildings but causing no casualties or damage.

The Central Weather Bureau says the 5.4 magnitude quake hit 6 miles (10 kilometers) east of the city of Hualien at 2:55 a.m. Saturday(1855 GMT Friday).

Hualien is 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of the capital Taipei.

Earthquakes frequently rattle Taiwan, but most are minor and cause little or no damage.

However, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people, and in December 2006 a 6.7-magnitude offshore tremor south of Kaohsiung severed two undersea cables and disrupted telephone and Internet service to millions of users throughout Asia.