Baby rescued from ruins as 6.4 Magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan.

 

 

No fewer than five people died including a ten-day-old baby after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan in the early hours of this morning, causing a 17-storey apartment building to collapse.

Emergency crews are working to free hundreds more people who are feared trapped after the quake struck the southern city of Tainan at around 4am at the start of the Chinese New Year holidays, according to Taiwan's state news agency.

A ten-day-old girl was reported to have died in the disaster alongside a 50-year-old man who was found in the same apartment. Another man, 40, was reportedly killed, as was a 55-year-old woman, according to an emergency response center in Tainan.

in total four buildings collapsed in Tainan City, though there is not thought to be anyone trapped inside the other structures.

The initial quake, which struck just before 4am, was very shallow, at depth of 6.2 miles (10 km), which would have amplified its effects, the United States Geographical Survey said.

 The quake initially cut power to 168,000 households in Tainan. Later, utility Taipower said power had been restored to all but about 900 households. 

It was followed least five aftershocks of 3.8-magnitude or more, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau. Any earthquake which measures above 6 on the Richter scale is considered strong, with the most severe recorded measuring at 8.9. 

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, speaking to reporters in the capital before leaving for the Tainan, 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.

 

 

TAIWAN EARTHQUAKE STATISTICS

Dead: Five, including a ten-day-old girl

Injured: 378 taken to hospital

Saved: 230 pulled from rubble

Rescuers: 1,200 firemen and soldiers

Trapped: Up to 30 inside apartment block

Magnitude: 6.4, striking at 3.57am