TAINAN: An earthquake brought down buildings in Tainan city, south Taiwan, resulting in 40 confirmed deaths as per sources. An official said that the toll would definitely go over 100. The magnitude 6.4 quake struck when most people were at home sleeping. Four people including a baby were killed when a high-rise building with 100 homes collapsed into rubble. The Mayor William Lai said people were alive but trapped and all means would be used to rescue them. He said survivors had reported legal “violations” in the building, giving no further details. Officials said that 310 people had been rescued, with 100 of them taken to hospital. Nearly 500 people were injured and a further 121 are still unaccounted for.
Seventeen stories of the Weiguan Jinlong apartment complex crumbled to dust. Records show that about 260 people were living there but it is suggested that more than 300 were inside at the time of the collapse as some students were renting rooms and may have been unregistered. It is also suggested that residents may also have had guests staying to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday. Lai said he had contacted judicial units and that prosecutors had formally launched an investigation into the construction of the apartment building. “We've also commissioned three independent bodies to preserve evidence during the rescue so we can assist the residents if they want to file lawsuits in the future. We will hold the builder responsible if they have broken the law,” he said.
Hundreds of soldiers are involved in the rescue effort, with the help of hi-tech equipment, sniffer dogs and cranes. Shelters are being set up for those who have lost their homes in the city of two million people.
