6.4 magnitude earthquake in Taiwan topples hotel

A four-star hotel has collapsed and other buildings reportedly destroyed after a massive 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan.

At least 30 people are trapped in the hotel in the east coast port city Hualien and there are reports of multiple injuries.

"That was a big one," tweeted Maggie Lewis.

"We were swaying 12 floors up here in Taipei. As Yogi Berra used to say, 'It's déjà vu all over again'. Hope everyone closer to the epicenter is safe."

Taiwan's official Central News Agency reported that the ground floor of the Marshal Hotel, in Hualien district, had caved in and people were believed to be trapped inside. The agency posted photos showing a road fractured in several parts.

Taiwanese media reported that aside from the cave in on the ground floor of the Marshal Hotel, a separate hotel known as the Beautiful Life Hotel, is tilting.

Photographs posted on social media also showed extensive damage to roads and high-rise buildings partially collapsed. There is no tsunami threat.

Emergency services are working to free people who are trapped, media reports say.

"There were a series of gentle aftershocks," Lewis told CNN.

The quake struck at 11.50pm local time (4.50am NZT), 22km east-northeast of Hualien at a depth of 1km, the US Geological Survey said.

The BBC reported local media as saying other buildings had toppled in Hualien.

On Sunday, another five shallow tremors struck within two hours of each other in the same area off Taiwan's east coast.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

The island's worst tremor in recent decades was a 7.6-magnitude quake in September 1999 that killed around 2400 people.

More to come