TAIPEI - An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck the sea areas near Taiwan's Hualien at 11:17 am local time Monday, Taiwan's weather bureau said in a statement on its website.

The epicenter of the quake was monitored at 23.63 degrees north latitude, and 121.72 degrees east longitude, at a depth of about 31.9 kilometers.

No report of casualties is immediately available at the moment.