Gov't says no quake damage reported for ports and roads

The South Korean government said that no damage has been reported for the nation's roads, airports and sea ports from a record earthquake that jolted the entire nation Monday night.

The 5.8-magnitude quake was detected at 8:35 p.m. in Naenam-myeon region in Gyeongju, some 371 kilometers southeast of Seoul, following a 5.1-magnitude tremor some 50 minutes earlier.

The second earthquake was the strongest-ever to occur on South Korean soil.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it has set up an emergency control team in accordance with a contingency plan to check the country's infrastructure including roads, railroads, urban facilities, airports and houses.

The ministry issued an order for all trains to reduce speed to 30 kilometers per hour when they pass by the epicenter and its surrounding areas.

"We've received no reports of damage on railroads and roads, as well as airports" a ministry official said.

Meanwhile, the country's seaports, passenger ships and fishing boats have reported no damage caused by the earthquake, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. (Yonhap)