Magnitude 6.3 quake strikes off Taiwan-USGS

(Adds background, clarifies timing)

WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - A magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit just off the coast of Taiwan, the U.S. Geological Survey reported on Monday.

It said the quake, which struck at 2:05 a.m. local time on Tuesday (1805 GMT on Monday) 40 miles (60 km) east of the coastal city of Hua-lien, was only 15.3 miles (25 km) deep.

There was no immediate tsunami warning but according to the USGS, earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within 62 miles (100 km) of the earthquake epicenter.

Earthquakes occur frequently in Taiwan, which lies on a seismically active stretch of the Pacific basin. (Reporting by Sandra Maler, Editing by Doina Chiacu)