Taiwan earthquake death toll rises, dozens of people still stuck in tunnels | Abroad

On the east coast, many places are partly blocked by rocks. Taiwanese media report that ships are being deployed to reach isolated places along the coast.

Rescue workers are also trying to make a railway usable again. At least four of the victims who died were tourists.

Among the trapped victims were two German tourists. They got stuck in a tunnel in the Taroko nature park due to crumbled rock. The two have now been freed, the German newspaper reports Image. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no indications yet that there are Dutch victims.

According to rescuers, dozens of people are still trapped in a tunnel near a mine.

The earthquake was felt throughout Taiwan and neighboring islands. The Taiwanese Meteorological Institute is talking about an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2. That would be the most powerful quake since September 1999. Then 2,400 people died in an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6.

Japan initially reported a magnitude 7.5 quake. That was later adjusted to 7.7. At least nine aftershocks with a magnitude of at least 4 have been measured.

The quake occurred just off the Taiwanese coast. Tsunami warnings were issued in Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines, but have now been withdrawn. A few Japanese islands were hit by a small tsunami, but it had no major consequences.

Rescue efforts and recovery efforts are hampered by the heavy aftershocks. Authorities say those aftershocks could continue for four more days.

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