BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter Scale hit the sea near Ilan County in northeast Taiwan at 3:43 a.m. Beijing Time Friday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter was monitored at 24.3 degrees north latitude and 122.1 degrees east longitude with the depth of 12 km.

No information of casualties is immediately available.