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Rescuers find survivors after Taiwan earthquake

Rescue operations are concentrated on a 17-floor apartment building that collapsed.

By Ed Adamczyk
A woman is rescued alive from the wreckage of a collapsed building days after an earthquake in Taiwan. Screenshot courtesy of Press Association
A woman is rescued alive from the wreckage of a collapsed building days after an earthquake in Taiwan. Screenshot courtesy of Press Association

TAINAN CITY , Taiwan, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Rescuers continue to find survivors of a 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Tainan City, Taiwan.

At least 38 people were killed and hundreds remain unaccounted for, after the city of nearly 2 million was struck by the quake at the start of lunar New Year's celebrations Friday. Rescuers combed collapsed apartment buildings for survivors, concentrating on the 17-story Weiguan Jinliong, where most of the victims died. On Sunday they pulled an 8-year-old girl from the site. Three more people, including the girl's aunt, were found alive Monday.

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Another survivor was found lying beside the bodies of her husband and infant son. A 6-month-old baby was also found but later died in the hospital. A 3-year-old boy, his arms crushed by concrete, was freed alive by rescue crews in a daylong effort.

An investigation into the construction of the building was started with Tainan City Mayor William Lai saying survivors had reported "violations" in its construction. He offered no further details.

A statement by Taiwanese President-elect Tsai Ing-wen said, "All of Taiwan is with these rescuers and the people of Tainan. Today we are all from Tainan."

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