Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Agency

Taiwan earthquake: 115 bodies pulled from rubble of collapsed building

Rescuers have pulled out 115 bodies in the week since a powerful earthquake struck Taiwan's oldest city of Tainan, leaving only two missing in the rubble of a collapsed 17-storey residential complex.

All but two of the dead were found in the ruins of the Weiguan Golden Dragon complex, which toppled when the 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck last Saturday just ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

A total of 327 people in the building survived.

 

According to Taiwan's Interior Ministry, workers recovered scores more bodies on Friday and Saturday, but two are still listed as missing.

Authorities detained the building's developer Lin Ming-hui and two architects this week on suspicion of negligent homicide amid accusations his firm cut corners in the construction.

Tainan city officials said they will inspect several dozen other developments built by Lin, as well as other buildings in the Weiguan compound that did not collapse.

Earthquakes frequently strike Taiwan, but usually cause little or no damage, particularly since more stringent building regulations were introduced following a magnitude-7.6 quake in 1999 that killed more than 2,300.

PA

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.