Five dead as 6.4 magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan

The southern Taiwan city of Tainan has been hit by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake collapsing a 17-storey building with at least five lives lost and many residents trapped under debris.

Speaking at the disaster site just hours after the quake shook the island early on Saturday, William Lai, Tainan’s mayor said 221 people lived in the building while also informing newsmen that another 31 people had been moved to hospital for treatment.‎

Read also: 5 dead as earthquake hits India

A government official says a 40-year-old man and a baby girl were reported dead while one city hospital where most of the victims were taken to said 58 people had been brought in, and fortunately most of them had light injuries.

A fire brigade official said more than 120 survivors were rescued to safety as men of the brigade mounted hydraulic ladders and a crane to search the debris for more survivors.

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