Taiwan earthquake toll rises to 26

07 February,2016 05:42 PM IST |   |  IANS

The toll from a powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake that struck southern Taiwan on Saturday has risen to 26 by Sunday


Taipei: The toll from a powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake that struck southern Taiwan on Saturday has risen to 26 by Sunday.

Of the total, 24 people have been died in the collapse of a 17-storey high-rise Wei Guan building, the most seriously damaged, located in Tainan city, Xinhua news agency reported.


Rescue personnel work at the site of a collapsed building in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan early on February 7, 2016 following a strong earthquake. More than 250 people have been rescued from the Wei-kuan apartment complex in the southern city of Tainan since the quake hit at 4:00 am Saturday. Pic/AFP

The rescuers are continuing to rescue over 120 people who are still trapped in the debris of the building.

The 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit Kaohsiung county on Saturday at a depth of 15 km.

Some of the island's high-speed rail lines have suspended operations.

More than 600 rescuers, including fire fighters and volunteers, as well as 105 fire engines and 44 ambulances have been pressed into the rescue operation.

Previous reports said more than 460 people were injured.

In Tainan, eight buildings collapsed and five others were damaged.

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