The toll from the earthquake that struck southern Taiwan early on Saturday rose to 35, of which 33 were killed in the collapse of a building in Tainan city. As many as 117 are still reportedly trapped under the debris of the 17-storey Wei-guan Golden Dragon Building, the government of Taiwan said in a statement.

On Monday, rescuers found a woman and two men alive, trapped under the rubble of the residential tower, officials said. The woman was found lying under her dead husband, while the body of their two-year-old son, who was also killed, was found nearby, a legislator who represents the area said. All rescue efforts are being focused to pull people out from under the rubble, Reuters reported.

The 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck at around 4 am, at the onset of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. President Ma Ying-jeou is scheduled to visit the disaster zone later on Monday. Tsai Ing-wen, who won the presidential election last month, is also slated to visit the site. State news agency Xinhua reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed his condolences to the victims of the disaster and reiterated Beijing's offer to help.