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Deadly earthquake topples buildings in Taiwan city of Tainan | Deadly earthquake topples buildings in Taiwan city of Tainan |
(35 minutes later) | |
An earthquake has toppled several buildings in the south Taiwan city of Tainan, killing at least three people. | |
Rescue teams were trying to reach people trapped in rubble after the magnitude 6.4 quake struck early on Saturday as people were sleeping. | Rescue teams were trying to reach people trapped in rubble after the magnitude 6.4 quake struck early on Saturday as people were sleeping. |
A baby and one other person died after a high-rise residential block collapsed. More than 220 people have been rescued. | |
President Ma Ying-jeou is on his way to Tainan, a city of two million people. | President Ma Ying-jeou is on his way to Tainan, a city of two million people. |
The quake was shallow, meaning its effects would have been amplified, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. | The quake was shallow, meaning its effects would have been amplified, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. |
Television pictures show rescue workers frantically trying to reach people trapped in collapsed buildings, using ladders to climb over piles of rubble. | Television pictures show rescue workers frantically trying to reach people trapped in collapsed buildings, using ladders to climb over piles of rubble. |
Taiwan's official news agency said at least 23 people had been injured in the multi-storey residential building, where about 200 people were believed to be living in about 60 households. | Taiwan's official news agency said at least 23 people had been injured in the multi-storey residential building, where about 200 people were believed to be living in about 60 households. |
Tainan resident Emma told BBC World News people feared further tremors. "I felt the quake, it was terrible," she said. | |
Irving Chu was in a hostel in central Tainan. He said he had been woken up by a tremor lasting about 40 seconds. | |
"It was a violent jerking motion," he told BBC World News. "The entire room was shaking. We were just holding on to things. We were shaken up." | |
Barry Knapp, a British man in Taiwan, said he was 240km (150 miles) north of Tainan but still felt the tremor. | Barry Knapp, a British man in Taiwan, said he was 240km (150 miles) north of Tainan but still felt the tremor. |
"I was just in bed, about to fall asleep, and shaking started happening," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. | "I was just in bed, about to fall asleep, and shaking started happening," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. |
"It was going on for about 20 to 30 seconds and it came in waves. It was shaking and then it eased off, but then it started shaking even harder." | "It was going on for about 20 to 30 seconds and it came in waves. It was shaking and then it eased off, but then it started shaking even harder." |
The earthquake struck as people were getting ready for Chinese New Year. | The earthquake struck as people were getting ready for Chinese New Year. |
"It has come at a bad time," journalist Jay Chen told the BBC. | |
"Sunday is New Year's Eve. People were preparing to celebrate and now many people will be homeless." | "Sunday is New Year's Eve. People were preparing to celebrate and now many people will be homeless." |
There were also reports of power outages. | |
Saturday's quake was felt in the capital Taipei 300 km away and there have since been several aftershocks. | Saturday's quake was felt in the capital Taipei 300 km away and there have since been several aftershocks. |
A 7.6 magnitude quake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people. | A 7.6 magnitude quake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people. |
Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and often sees tremors. | Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and often sees tremors. |
Are you in Taiwan? Are affected by the issues raised in this story? If it is safe for you to get in touch, please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you in Taiwan? Are affected by the issues raised in this story? If it is safe for you to get in touch, please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |