Twin quakes, about 5.4 magnitude, hit off S. Korea's southeastern coast

Two earthquakes with the magnitudes of 5.5 and 5.4 have struck off South Korea's southeastern coast, about 6km north of the port of Pohang, the national meteorological service said. They hit some 35km from a nuclear power plant, but no damage is reported.

The quakes were felt in the South Korean capital, Seoul, some 270km from Pohang, Yonhap said, citing the Korea Meteorological Administration. The residents of Pohang were told to evacuate and reports emerged about buildings shaking following the tremors. A third aftershock with a 3.6 magnitude was recorded later, the weather agency said.

The initial quake was recorded at a depth of 10km, USGS said. It noted, however, only one earthquake in the area, measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale.

Pohang is some 35km from the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant, which has six operational reactors. According to state nuclear operator Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, neither of nuclear reactors on the southeastern coast was affected by the quakes.