Asian quake measures 7.1

An earthquake around 45 miles south of Kao-hsiung in Taiwan yesterday measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, according to data from the US Geological Survey.

Tremors were felt on the second anniversary of the Boxing Day tsunami, which cost hundreds of thousands of lives in south-east Asia.

Two people have been killed on the island and a further 42 are reported to have been injured as the quake shook buildings throughout the country.

Communications have also been affected in other areas, including China, South Korea and Japan.

China Telecommunications Group, one of China's largest telecoms firms, told the BBC that it had experienced cabling damage.

"Internet connections have been seriously affected and phone links and dedicated business lines have also been affected to some degree," the company noted.

Repair work in Taiwan and surrounding areas is expected to take a few weeks, with aftershocks after the main quake causing further damage.