Taipei, Feb. 7 (TNS): An earthquake has severely damaged buildings and trapped dozens of people in the Taiwanese city of Hualien.
The powerful 6.4-magnitude tremor struck at 23:50 (15:50 GMT) about 20km (12 miles) off the island’s east coast.
Rescuers are trying to free people from a partially collapsed hotel and residential building, officials say.
Photographs show leaning high-rise buildings and extensive damage to roads. There are no details of casualties so far.
At least 28 people have been rescued so far from buildings that have at least partially collapsed, the Hualien fire department said.
The lower basement and ground floor of the 10-storey Marshal Hotel have given way.
“We know there are people who are trapped inside – we can see lights inside the hotel,” eyewitness Zeena Starbuck said.
“People with phones are shining their lights to let people know they’re there.”
Some were seen crawling to safety, according to local media reports.
