BEIJING, April 3 -- China issued a red alert for tsunami after an earthquake jolted the sea area near Hualien of Taiwan at 7:58 a.m. on Wednesday.

According to the warning center of the Ministry of Natural Resources, a tsunami may be caused in surrounding waters of the quake's focus, expected to bring catastrophic effects to the coastal areas including the east of Taipei and Hualien.

China has a four-tier, color-coded warning system for tsunami, with red representing the most severe warning.