4 Vietnamese people injured in Taiwan earthquake

At least four Vietnamese people are trapped in a collapsed high-rise building in Tainan city, after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake early this morning.

Rescue scene at a collapsed apartment building. Photo: AP

According to a statement released tonight by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei said today that four Vietnamese people are in distress at the site of the collapsed high-rise building.

"Immediately after receiving the information, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei to immediately coordinate closely with local authorities to find ways to evacuate Vietnamese citizens from the building area," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Voice of Vietnam electronic newspaper quoted Mr. Tran Duy Hai, Head of the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, saying that there was a family of a Vietnamese bride named Tran Ngoc My, who married a Taiwanese man and was renting a house in the 17-story building that collapsed.

The 7-year-old girl and 2-month-old boy, along with Ms. My's younger sister, were in the accident. Ms. My was working the night shift when the earthquake occurred and escaped unharmed, the newspaper reported.

The Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei is making efforts to deploy emergency protective measures to ensure the safety of Vietnamese citizens.The office opened two hotlines at +88 698 819 39 29 and +88 697 865 53 58 to receive information related to citizens affected by the earthquake.

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Tainan City in southern Taiwan early this morning, killing at least 11 people. Taiwan's Emergency Management Information Center said nine people were found dead in a collapsed apartment building, and two others were killed by falling objects in Tainan.

Officials said 475 people were injured, but 368 of them had been discharged from hospital as of late this afternoon.

According to VNE