Rescue and search efforts continue in Taiwan after the country was hit by the strongest earthquake in the last 25 years on Wednesday.
While 9 people lost their lives in the earthquake, the number of injured exceeded 1000. It is also reported that many people are missing or trapped in the tunnels.
According to reports in Taiwanese media, local time on Wednesday evening, 143 people were still trapped under rubble or in blocked tunnels.
According to the National Fire Service, seven people were stranded in the Renhe mining area, 47 hotel workers and 24 tourists in Jiuqudong, 64 people in the Heping mining area and one person in the Jhu-ilu Trekking and Hiking trail.
Chen Cheng-chi, deputy commander of the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) and deputy minister of economic affairs, stated that most of the rescue efforts are currently focused on Provincial Highway No. 8.
Additionally, authorities have still not been able to contact four buses carrying civilians who disappeared after the earthquake.
The magnitude of the strong earthquake that hit the east coast of Taiwan was measured as 7.4.
The death toll is expected to increase in the coming days.
