Magnitude 6.4 earthquake shakes Taiwan

An earthquake with magnitude 6,4 occurred near Kao-hsiung, Taiwan at about 4am on Saturday local time, on February 5.

Multiple’ buildings – including at least one residential block – are said to have fallen following the quake

At least four buildings have fallen down, including a 17-storey apartment building. A local fire brigade had so far rescued 123 people from the wreckage, 26 of them were hospitalized.

 Rescue personnel work at a damaged building after an earthquake in Tainan, southern Taiwan, February 6, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer

Lin Kuan-cheng, spokesman for the National Fire Agency, said: “Four buildings have collapsed in Tainan City area. Search and rescue is under way and no casualties have been reported at this moment.”

A major rescue effort was underway following the 6.9 magnitude quake, which struck at 4am Taiwan time

Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau reports at least five aftershocks of 3,8-magnitude or more shook Tainan about half an hour after the initial quake.

So far about 30 people have been saved from the rubble and no fatalities have been reported

A destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected

Taiwan lies in the seismically active “Pacific Ring of Fire” zone and it was struck by a magnitude 7,7 quake that killed more than 2,400 people in September 1999.