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| Tainan in southern Taiwan hit by magnitude 6.4 earthquake | Tainan in southern Taiwan hit by magnitude 6.4 earthquake |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A powerful earthquake has struck Taiwan near the southern city of Tainan, causing buildings to collapse and other structures to lean dangerously. Over 120 people have so far been rescued but dozens of others are still thought to be trapped. | |
| Two people have so far been killed, including an infant girl, local TV reports said. | |
| 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 earthquake caused a 17-storey apartment building to collapse and crews had so far rescued 123 people from the wreckage, with at least 26 taken to hospital, a fire brigade official said, although there were fears more people could still be trapped. | |
| Rescuers mounted hydraulic ladders and a crane to scour the wreckage and help survivors to safety. 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. | |
| “There are 60 households in that building,” said Tainan city government fire service spokesman Lee Po Min, estimating that there might have been about 240 people living there. | “There are 60 households in that building,” said Tainan city government fire service spokesman Lee Po Min, estimating that there might have been about 240 people living there. |
| Residents and media outlets in the area took to social media with cellphone video clips of the aftermath, as fire crews tried to rescue people from wrecked buildings amid the sound of screaming and emergency vehicle sirens wailing. | |
| The China Post newspaper in Taiwan 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 in Taiwan 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.” |
| Lin Kuang-cheng, a spokesman for the national fire agency said: “Four buildings have collapsed in Tainan City area. Search and rescue is underway and no casualties have been reported at this moment.” | Lin Kuang-cheng, a spokesman for the national fire agency said: “Four buildings have collapsed in Tainan City area. Search and rescue is underway and no casualties have been reported at this moment.” |
| 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 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 that 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 told Reuters. | Taiwanese television reported that 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 told Reuters. |
| 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. |
| Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes. A 6.3-magnitude quake which hit central Taiwan in June 2013 killed four people and caused widespread landslides. | Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes. A 6.3-magnitude quake which hit central Taiwan in June 2013 killed four people and caused widespread landslides. |
| A 7.6-magnitude quake struck the island in September 1999 and killed about 2,400 people. |