Rescuers Searching for People Trapped After Taiwan Earthquake
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Tremor causes four buildings to collapse, including one hotel
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Authorities say five people are still trapped in rubble
Rescue workers block off the area to search for survivors outside a building which tilted to one side after its foundation collapsed in Hualien after an earthquake rocked eastern Taiwan, on Feb. 7.
Photographer: Paul Yang/AFP via Getty Images
Rescuers are searching for people trapped in rubble after a magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck the east coast of Taiwan late Tuesday, killing at least two people and injuring more than 200 others.
The National Fire Agency says it knows of five people still trapped as of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in four buildings that collapsed in Hualien City. More than 170 people remained unaccounted for. Authorities say 219 people were injured during the quake.
The 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan’s east coast at 11:50 p.m. local time Tuesday, the Central Weather Bureau said. The epicenter was 18.3 kilometers (11.4 miles) northeast of Hualien with a depth of 10 kilometers.
The impact of the quake was largely limited to the east coast. The Atomic Energy Council said all of Taiwan’s nuclear plants are operating normally while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. acting spokeswoman Elizabeth Sun said none of the company’s plants were affected.