America News Agency

Buildings collapsed in southern Taiwan due to the strongest earthquake in the last 25 years.

"A tsunami warning has been issued to remind people in coastal areas to be vigilant," an emergency message issued by Taiwanese authorities on Wednesday night said.

Tsunami waves as high as three meters were expected on remote Japanese islands in the region, including Miyakojima island, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The Philippines also issued a tsunami warning and ordered the evacuation of coastal areas.

Wu Chien-fu, head of the Taipei meteorological department, said that the earthquake in Taiwan was believed to be the strongest earthquake in the last 25 years and added: "The earthquake was close to the land and shallow. "It was felt all over Taiwan and the islands near the coast," he said.

The quake damaged homes in southern Taiwan, including a five-story building in the city of Hualien whose first floor collapsed. Many aftershocks were felt in the capital Taipei.