TAIPEI, March 8 (AFP) - A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan Monday, the central weather bureau said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The quake struck at 5:26 pm (0926 GMT) about 16 kilometres (10 miles) southeast of southern Chiayi city with the epicentre 14 kilometres underground.

Last week, a strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked the south of the island, derailing a carriage on a high-speed train, toppling farm houses and momentarily cutting off electricity to more than half a million homes.

Taiwan is regularly hit by earthquakes as the island lies near the junction of two tectonic plates.

In September 1999, a 7.6-magnitude tremor killed around 2,400 people in the deadliest natural disaster in the island's history.