Residential tower collapse with hundreds still trapped alive

6.4 magnitude earthquake kills 15 at Tainan as several high-rise buildings are toppled

 

10-day old baby rescued alive
10-day old baby rescued alive
Tainan earthquake at night
Tainan earthquake at night
Residential tower collapse with hundreds still trapped alive
Residential tower collapse, several trapped alive

17-storey building collapse

An earthquake with 6.4 magnitude struck before 4:00pm (20:00 GMT Friday 5th February 2016) and toppled several high-rise buildings in the south Taiwanese city of Tainan killing at least 15 people including a baby when over 100 homes collapsed.

At least 40 people remain missing and hundreds and admitted to local hospitals. According to Tainan’s mayor people were alive but trapped in the rubble and all possible means are used to rescue them. President Ma Ying-jeou who toured the city of two millions, said shelters would be erected for those who had lost their homes.  One of the worst affected was the 17-streu Wei Kuan apartment complex home to at least 256 people. Over 200 people were rescued. Interior Minister Wei-jen said many more people are feared trapped in the fallen apartment block than usual as families gather to celebrate Tiwanese New Year.

Investigation are already underway to establish if the building construction met with regulations. The quake was shallow as its effect would have been amplified, according to US Geological Survey.

The quake was felt in the capital Taipei 300 km away. There are also reports of power outages and transport links have been disrupted. Taiwan lies near the junction if two tectonic plates and often tremors occur. In 1999, a 7.6 magnitude quake killed over 2,300 people in central Taiwan.