earthquake taiwan
© t4ttoo / Instagram
Southern Taiwan was hit was hit by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake early Saturday, with heavy damage reported. Rescue crews are trying to save people feared to be trapped inside a collapsed building in the city of Tainan.

05 February 2016

22:18 GMT

Tainan City has been hit by flooding as the result of broken water lines in some areas, according to local media reports.

22:16 GMT

At least two injuries have been reported as a result of falling debris in the Huwei Township of Yunlin County, BNO news reports.

22:14 GMT

At least four buildings have collapsed as a result of the earthquake.

"Four buildings have collapsed in Tainan City area. Search and rescue is underway and no casualties have been reported at this moment," Lin Kuan-cheng, spokesman for the National Fire Agency, told AFP.


21:59 GMT

So far rescuers have managed to save 30 people from the seven-story collapsed building, Formosa TV is reporting.

21:50 GMT

Taiwan Television is reporting that hundreds of people are believed to be trapped inside the collapsed building.


21:49 GMT

The city government has set up a level one emergency response center, Taiwan's China Post reports. Onlookers are being urged not to block access to emergency crews moving into the area.

21:48 GMT

Tainan City Fire Department confirmed that a building has collapsed in the Yongkang District in Tainan, with rescue team being dispatched, BBC China reports.

21:40 GMT

No fatalities have yet been officially confirmed, according to local Formosa TV.

21:31 GMT

No tsunami warning has been issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning center following a strong earthquake in Taiwan.