The quakes occurred starting at 12:26 GMT on Tuesday 26 December 2006. The server for IAS Plus is located in Hong Kong. The earthquakes and related aftershocks damaged undersea data cables in the Luzon Strait between Hong Kong and Taiwan, disrupting internet links between Hong Kong and much of the world yesterday and continuing today. IAS Plus normally has up time of 99.9% and connect time (time it takes for us to start sending data to you after you access the site) of under 0.8 seconds. The main headline in today's South China Morning Postsays:

Cyberspace chaos leaves region reeling. Net users struggle to cope without their lifelineas providers warn it could take weeks to fix cables damaged by quake.

Update 07:48 GMT 28 December: News reports say that six of the seven main submarine fibre-optic cables serving Hong Kong have been badly damaged and the seventh is functioning with limited capacity. At least eight boats (three from Taiwan and five from Hong Kong) have been dispatched to assess damage and undertake repairs – which reports say may take up to three weeks. Some rerouting of traffic may be possible until repairs are completed.