RT News
Date: 5 Feb, 2016 20:22

Multiple buildings, including a residential tower, have collapsed after a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan early on Saturday. Authorities in the affected city have formed an emergency response center.

LIVE UPDATES: Rescue teams respond to extensive damage after Taiwan quake

A building has half collapsed in Tainan as a result of the quake, with fire brigades now on their way to the site, Liu Shih-chung, Tainan City Government official, told Reuters.

The quake was initially reported as a magnitude 6.7.

The epicenter of the quake was located at a shallow depth of 6.2 miles (10 km), some 19 miles (31 km) east-southeast of Tainan, the USGS said.

There have so far been no reports about casualties or the destruction caused by the disaster. But the quake has been described as “enormous” and “a big one” on social media.

Local authorities in Tainan have said that they have formed an emergency response center following the quake.

Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau also measured a second quake of 4.3 magnitude in Tainan, Reuters reported.

The USGS has warned that a magnitude 6.4 earthquake is capable of causing “severe damage.”    [FULL  STORY]