Taiwan quake death toll rises to 29

Xinhua News Agency

text

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck southern Taiwan had climbed to 29 by 8:00 p.m. Sunday.

The collapse of the Wei Guan building, the most seriously damaged, has killed 27.

At about 1:50 p.m., rescuers pulled from the Wei Guan building a man in his 20s, who later died.

A six-month-old girl was rescued but died. Her father was also among the deceased.

The rescuers are racing against time to save over 120 people who are still trapped in the rubble of the building.

The island's high-speed rail lines resumed full operations on 5:00 p.m. as a result of emergency repairs.

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

Previous reports said more than 460 people were injured.

In the historic city of Tainan, eight buildings collapsed and another five were damaged.

The Chinese mainland has offered help. While addressing a lunar new year gathering on Saturday morning, Premier Li Keqiang sent condolences to the victims.

The 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit Kaohsiung at 3:57 a.m. Beijing Time on Saturday at a depth of 15 kilometers, the China Earthquake Networks Center said. The quake occurred two days prior to Spring Festival, the lunar new year.

The mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office have been in contact with the island, vowing to offer any and all necessary aid if needed.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission and the China Earthquake Administration said on Sunday that they are ready to send rescue and medical teams to the island.

The counties of Beichuan and Lushan in southwest China's Sichuan Province, both having suffered greatly in the devastating May 12 earthquake in 2008 and received support from the island afterwards, have promised to donate one million yuan (152,200 U.S. dollars) as quake relief fund to the Taiwan Red Cross.

Many mainland netizens posted messages expressing sympathy for Taiwan compatriots who are affected by the quake.

"Let's pray for our Taiwan compatriots," wrote netizen "Zuo'an Houniao."

Commenting on a Taiwan quake news post on weibo.com, the Chinese Twitter, "kubukanyan" from Guizhou Province wrote, "Let's get through this disaster together and rebuild the hometown." Enditem