An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale was reported in the sea area east of Taiwan at 6:59 PM on Thursday.

The China earthquake observation network recorded the epicenter at 22.8 degrees north and 122.1 degrees east, according to the China Seismological Bureau. The epicenter was about 80 kilometers from Taiwan.

Casualty reports have not been available.

Two earthquakes -- the first measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale and the second measuring 6.7 -- hit the South China Sea on Dec. 26, killing two people and injuring at least 42 in Taiwan.

The earthquakes severely disrupted telecommunications in Taiwan, the Chinese mainland and other parts of Asia.

At least six cables belonging to China Telecom, one of the mainland's main telecommunication and broadband service providers, in the sea area 15 kilometers south of Taiwan were severed by the earthquakes, and the repair took weeks to restore telecommunications between the mainland and Taiwan, the U.S. and Europe.

The latest earthquake hit the sea area of Taiwan occurred on Jan. 16, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale. No serious damage was caused.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2007)