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Taiwan earthquake: death toll rises with dozens trapped in toppled building | Taiwan earthquake: death toll rises with dozens trapped in toppled building |
(7 months later) | |
A powerful earthquake in Taiwan has brought down a 17-storey apartment complex full of families gathered for the lunar new year celebrations, with at least 15 people dead and many more feared to be trapped. | A powerful earthquake in Taiwan has brought down a 17-storey apartment complex full of families gathered for the lunar new year celebrations, with at least 15 people dead and many more feared to be trapped. |
Rescuers were searching late on Saturday for more than 130 people still missing after the 6.4-magnitude quake struck in the early hours, with the southern city of Tainan bearing the brunt of the damage. | Rescuers were searching late on Saturday for more than 130 people still missing after the 6.4-magnitude quake struck in the early hours, with the southern city of Tainan bearing the brunt of the damage. |
About 340 people were rescued from the rubble over the course of the day. An entire residential complex of four buildings containing almost 100 homes toppled to the ground, with twisted metal girders exposed and clouds of dust rising from the jumbled concrete. | About 340 people were rescued from the rubble over the course of the day. An entire residential complex of four buildings containing almost 100 homes toppled to the ground, with twisted metal girders exposed and clouds of dust rising from the jumbled concrete. |
The dead bodies of a 10-day-old girl, three other children and six adults were recovered from the building, national fire agency officials said. | The dead bodies of a 10-day-old girl, three other children and six adults were recovered from the building, national fire agency officials said. |
A 56-year-old woman died after being hit by a falling water tank in another part of the city, the fire agency said, while falling debris accounted for another fatality. | A 56-year-old woman died after being hit by a falling water tank in another part of the city, the fire agency said, while falling debris accounted for another fatality. |
Rescuers mounted hydraulic ladders and a crane to scour the ruins, pulling more than 220 survivors to safety, with 150 taken to hospital. About 400 troops have been mobilised to help the rescue effort. Across, Tainan, nine buildings collapsed and five were left on their side, the emergency management information centre said, with 1,236 rescuers deployed, including 840 from the army, along with six helicopters and 23 rescue dogs. | Rescuers mounted hydraulic ladders and a crane to scour the ruins, pulling more than 220 survivors to safety, with 150 taken to hospital. About 400 troops have been mobilised to help the rescue effort. Across, Tainan, nine buildings collapsed and five were left on their side, the emergency management information centre said, with 1,236 rescuers deployed, including 840 from the army, along with six helicopters and 23 rescue dogs. |
Residents at the 16-storey Wei-kuan building told of their terror as the quake hit, with survivors pulled bleeding and crying from the rubble. | Residents at the 16-storey Wei-kuan building told of their terror as the quake hit, with survivors pulled bleeding and crying from the rubble. |
“I saw buildings shake up and down and left and right,” said one resident. | “I saw buildings shake up and down and left and right,” said one resident. |
“The first and second floor just collapsed and I smelled that gas and water was leaking,” he told local channel SET TV. | “The first and second floor just collapsed and I smelled that gas and water was leaking,” he told local channel SET TV. |
Another man tied his clothes together to create a rope and lowered himself from his home on the ninth floor to the sixth floor below, Apple Daily reported. | Another man tied his clothes together to create a rope and lowered himself from his home on the ninth floor to the sixth floor below, Apple Daily reported. |
The US Geological Survey recorded powerful tremors of 6.4 magnitude early on Saturday morning local time, following initial reports of a 6.7-magnitude earthquake. | The US Geological Survey recorded powerful tremors of 6.4 magnitude early on Saturday morning local time, following initial reports of a 6.7-magnitude earthquake. |
The Taiwanese president, Ma Ying-jeou, speaking to reporters in the capital before leaving for the scene, said authorities were not clear on the extent of the disaster. | The Taiwanese president, Ma Ying-jeou, speaking to reporters in the capital before leaving for the scene, said authorities were not clear on the extent of the disaster. |
“The disaster situation is not very clear yet. We will do our utmost to rescue and secure survivors,” Ma said. | “The disaster situation is not very clear yet. We will do our utmost to rescue and secure survivors,” Ma said. |
Residents and media outlets in the area posted mobile phone video clips of the aftermath on social media, as fire crews tried to rescue people from wrecked buildings amid the sound of screaming and emergency vehicle sirens. | Residents and media outlets in the area posted mobile phone video clips of the aftermath on social media, as fire crews tried to rescue people from wrecked buildings amid the sound of screaming and emergency vehicle sirens. |
One elderly woman, wrapped in blankets, was strapped to a board and slowly slid down a ramp to the ground as the cries of those still trapped rang out. Rescuers used dogs and acoustic equipment to pick up weaker signs of life among the rubble. | One elderly woman, wrapped in blankets, was strapped to a board and slowly slid down a ramp to the ground as the cries of those still trapped rang out. Rescuers used dogs and acoustic equipment to pick up weaker signs of life among the rubble. |
The China Post newspaper said on its website: “Collapsed buildings reported in Tainan, with rescue workers arriving on scene. The city government there has set up a level one emergency response centre. Onlookers are urged not to block access to emergency crews moving into the area.” | The China Post newspaper said on its website: “Collapsed buildings reported in Tainan, with rescue workers arriving on scene. The city government there has set up a level one emergency response centre. Onlookers are urged not to block access to emergency crews moving into the area.” |
Residents and reporters also posted pictures of huge buildings listing at precarious angles over the street. | Residents and reporters also posted pictures of huge buildings listing at precarious angles over the street. |
The city of Kaohsiung, further south, was also affected. | The city of Kaohsiung, further south, was also affected. |
The earthquake was a shallow one, occurring close to the land surface, which can be particularly destructive. But there has been no indication so far that it might result in a tsunami, the authorities said. | The earthquake was a shallow one, occurring close to the land surface, which can be particularly destructive. But there has been no indication so far that it might result in a tsunami, the authorities said. |
Taiwanese television reported there were hundreds of people in one of the buildings that collapsed in Tainan. “I hugged the wall and put my face to the wall,” Tainan resident Pao-feng Wu said. | Taiwanese television reported there were hundreds of people in one of the buildings that collapsed in Tainan. “I hugged the wall and put my face to the wall,” Tainan resident Pao-feng Wu said. |
The earthquake struck a few minutes before 4am local time in Taiwan and tremors were felt right across the island and as far north as the capital, Taipei, 200 miles away. | The earthquake struck a few minutes before 4am local time in Taiwan and tremors were felt right across the island and as far north as the capital, Taipei, 200 miles away. |
In the immediate aftermath of the quake, flooding and power failures had affected the worst-hit south-western area and authorities scrambled to reach residents. | In the immediate aftermath of the quake, flooding and power failures had affected the worst-hit south-western area and authorities scrambled to reach residents. |
City officials said it was too early to determine if poor construction was a factor in the collapse. Liu Shih-chung, city government deputy secretary general, said television footage of the ruins of the commercial-residential building suggested the possibility of structural problems related to poor-quality reinforced steel and cement. | City officials said it was too early to determine if poor construction was a factor in the collapse. Liu Shih-chung, city government deputy secretary general, said television footage of the ruins of the commercial-residential building suggested the possibility of structural problems related to poor-quality reinforced steel and cement. |
The construction and engineering companies that built the complex were no longer operating, records showed. | The construction and engineering companies that built the complex were no longer operating, records showed. |
Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes. A 6.3-magnitude quake hit central Taiwan in June 2013, killing four people and causing widespread landslides. | Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes. A 6.3-magnitude quake hit central Taiwan in June 2013, killing four people and causing widespread landslides. |
A 7.6-magnitude quake struck the island in September 1999 and killed about 2,400 people. | A 7.6-magnitude quake struck the island in September 1999 and killed about 2,400 people. |