Powerful Quake Hits Isle; 38 People Hurt

A strong earthquake jolted southern Taiwan this morning, collapsing several homes, cutting off electricity and triggering a fire at a university, seismologists and local media reported. At least 38 people were injured, Associated Press reported. Reuters said state radio reported that one person was crushed to death in the collapse of a furniture warehouse. The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4, was centered near the city of Chiayi, about 180 miles south of Taipei, the Central Weather Bureau said. Dozens of aftershocks followed, it said. The bureau said the quake was unrelated to the 7.6-magnitude temblor that struck Taiwan on Sept. 21 and killed more than 2,000 people.