Hualien, August 16— A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 struck the east coast of Taiwan on Friday morning, marking the second significant tremor to hit the island nation in less than 24 hours. The quake occurred at 7:35 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located 34 kilometers off the coast of Hualien at a depth of 9.7 kilometers below sea level, according to the country’s meteorological department.

Despite the intensity of the earthquake, the Taiwanese government has confirmed that there was no major damage reported. The British news agency Reuters noted that this earthquake follows closely on the heels of another tremor that struck the northeastern part of Taiwan on Thursday, which registered a magnitude of 5.7.

Taiwan’s Central Meteorological Administration issued immediate warnings through mobile alerts, advising citizens to remain cautious and calm. In Hualien, the local fire department reported that two individuals trapped in an elevator during the quake were safely rescued. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.

The National Fire Service also assured the public that there was no major damage caused by the earthquake. In addition, the country’s high-speed train, rail, and metro systems are all running normally, indicating minimal disruption to daily life.

The area around Hualien, where Friday's earthquake struck, was also the epicenter of another major earthquake in April, making it a seismically active region. The back-to-back tremors have heightened awareness and preparedness across the island, though officials continue to monitor the situation closely.