BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A 5.3-magnitude earthquake jolted Hualien County of China's Taiwan at 8:14 p.m. Thursday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The epicenter was monitored at 23.78 degrees north latitude and 121.55 degrees east longitude. The earthquake struck at a depth of 19 km, the center said. ■