An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale hit the sea off the coast of Hualien County in Taiwan at 4:16 p.m. Beijing Time Tuesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter was monitored at 24.2 degrees north latitude and 121.8 degrees east longitude with a depth of about seven kilometers, the center said.

The epicenter is about 35 kilometers away from Hualien and about 100 kilometers from Taipei, according to the center.

According to Taiwan's meteorological department, the quake in the afternoon, which it measured to be 5.5 on the Richter Scale, was the fifth and the biggest quake jolting the area on Tuesday.

Another four quakes measuring 3 to 4 on the Richter Scale had occurred in the morning, it said.

Xinhua's correspondent in Taipei felt tremors when the afternoon quake struck.

No damages have been reported.