Houses crumbling after the earthquake in Taiwan

The magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck early this morning, damaging many buildings in southern Taiwan, including a collapsed 17-storey apartment building, leaving more than 100 people stranded.

The magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck almost 4 hours with the epicenter 23km deep in the area about 43km southeast of Tainan City, southwestern Taiwan (Photo: Reuters).

The quake spilled a 17-storey condominium in Tainan, where there are about 92 households, 256 people, living, according to estimates from local authorities.However, they were not sure how many people were in the building when the earthquake struck.An area affected by earthquakes.(Photo: AFP).

Rescuers rescued 221 survivors of the collapsed apartment building, according to the AP.At least 5 people were killed, including a 10-day-old infant.In the photo, rescuers are searching in the area of ​​the highest floors of the apartment building.(Photo: AP).

Taiwanese media reported that there was also a 16-storey building collapsed due to the earthquake and more than 30 survivors were rescued.Taiwanese firefighters are actively using ladders and cranes and other equipment to search for rubble.(Photo: Reuters).

A supported victim offers a safe place.(Photo: Reuters).

Taiwan's leader Ma Ying-jeou, speaking to reporters in Taipei before arriving at the scene, said authorities were not clear about the extent of the disaster.About 168,000 households in Tainan lose electricity.Energy company Taipower announced that it has re-energized almost all households.(Photo: Reuters).

A woman who just wiped her tears told her that she had to use a hammer to break the door, deformed by the earthquake, to climb out, according to local television channel SET TV.Taiwan authorities also discovered cracks in a dam but they are not dangerous.Some high-speed train lines have to temporarily stop operating in southern Taiwan to check the tracks.(Photo: Reuters).

Rescuers bring a child out of a collapsed 17-storey apartment building.(Photo: Reuters).

Taiwan is located near the intersection of two tectonic plates and is constantly suffering from earthquakes.A magnitude 6.3 earthquake has caused the island to shake in June 2013, killing four people and causing widespread landslides.(Photo: Xinhua).

A collapsed building crushed the vehicles below.(Photo: Reuters).