Dozens Dead After Magnitude 6.4 Earthquake Hits Taiwan

Rescuers are seen entering an office building that collapsed on its side from an early morning earthquake in Tainan, southern Taiwan, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has struck southern Taiwan, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. (AP Photo)

A powerful earthquake struck Taiwan early on Saturday killing at least 12 people, most in a 17-story apartment building that collapsed, with some people still known to be missing in the ruins of the complex as night fell, government officials said.

Taiwan’s official Central News Agency said late Saturday that over 150 peopleremain missing.

As rescuers searched for survivors, questions were raised about the construction of the Wei-guan Golden Dragon Building in the southern city of Tainan, with its floors that pancaked down on each other when the 6.4 magnitude tremor hit at around 4 a.m. (2000 GMT), at the start of a Lunar New Year holiday.

Ten of the dead, including a 10-day-old girl, were from the apartment building. The baby was found in her dead father’s arms, media reported.

Rescuers mounted hydraulic ladders and a crane to scour the ruins, plucking survivors to safety, with hundreds taken to hospital, though many were quickly released.

An 18-year old man was found alive and conscious shortly after dark, and rescuers were working to get him free, while a 30-year-old woman, a nine-year old girl and a male toddler were pulled out alive, Taiwan television said.