An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scales hit southern Taiwan on Saturday morning, toppling a 17-storey residential building with approximately 60 households in Tainan city. Twelve people, including a ten-day-old girl and another child, have been reported killed so far. Rescuers pulled 247 survivors from the rubble, while several others were hospitalised, the emergency centre said. AFP said at least 30 people are still suspected to be trapped in rubble. More than 400 people have been injured across Tainan, and over 60 people hospitalised.

The Wei Guan residential tower was home to 256 people living in 96 units, reported AP. Local media said the building also housed a care center for newborns and mothers. Dozens of other people were rescued or safely evacuated from a market and a seven-floor building that were badly damaged, according to the official China Central News Agency. A bank building was also hit, but no injuries were reported.

Most people were asleep when the temblor struck at about 4 am local time. It was centred around 48 km east-southeast of Tainan, and struck about 10 km underground, according to the US Geological Survey. The earthquake hit a day before the eve of the Lunar New Year in the country. Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, who spoke to reporters before leaving for the disaster scene, said authorities were not yet fully aware of the extent of damage.