6.4-magnitude earthquake near Taiwan kills at least 4

At least four people are dead and more than 240 have been injured.

ByABC News
February 6, 2018, 4:20 PM

— -- A 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck just off the coast of Taiwan late Tuesday night has killed at least four people, authorities said.

Initial reports indicate the quake was about 5.9 miles deep and roughly 13 miles from the city of Hualien, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

PHOTO: A person climbs a damaged building in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake hit the island.
A person climbs a damaged building in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake hit the island.

At least 241 have been injured, the Central Emergency Operations Center told ABC News. About 20 of those people have serious injuries, according to the mayor of Hualien.

Four buildings have collapsed and two bridges were closed, the Central Emergency Operations Center also said.

Approximately 82 people remained missing, down from 183 earlier, authorities said.

PHOTO: A damaged building is surrounded by first responders in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, after an earthquake hit Hualien on the night of Feb. 6, 2018.
A damaged building is surrounded by first responders in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, after an earthquake hit Hualien on the night of Feb. 6, 2018.

Photos show a large mixed-use building heavily tilting. At least two fatalities occurred in this structure, the Hualien Fire Department told ABC News.

The Marshal Hotel was one of the buildings that collapsed, a fire department official said. There were more than 100 guests in the hotel at the time of the quake, and at least three remained trapped, the department said. Firefighters were continuing to deal with gas leaks and fires as a result of the quake.

Video shows rescuers helping people out of the building.

PHOTO: Rescure workers search the damaged Marshal Hotel in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, early Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake struck the island.
Rescure workers search the damaged Marshal Hotel in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, early Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake struck the island. A hotel on the east coast of Taiwan has collapsed after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake, the government said. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL YANG / Taiwan OUTPAUL YANG/AFP/Getty Images
PHOTO: People walk on a damaged road in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake hit the island.
People walk on a damaged road in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake hit the island.
PHOTO: Rescue workers search the Marshal Hotel in Hualien, eastern Taiwan early Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake struck the island.
Rescue workers search the Marshal Hotel in Hualien, eastern Taiwan early Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake struck the island.
PHOTO: Rescuers search for people in a damaged building in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake hit the island.
Rescuers search for people in a damaged building in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake hit the island.
PHOTO: Customers leave the damaged Marshal Hotel in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, after a strong quake on Feb. 7, 2018.
Customers leave the damaged Marshal Hotel in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, after a strong quake on Feb. 7, 2018.
PHOTO: Two guests are escorted by rescue workers from the damaged Marshal Hotel in Hualien, eastern Taiwan early Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake struck the island.
Two guests are escorted by rescue workers from the damaged Marshal Hotel in Hualien, eastern Taiwan early Feb. 7, 2018, after a strong earthquake struck the island.
PHOTO: Customers who escaped from the damaged Marshal Hotel take shelter in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, after a strong quake on Feb. 7, 2018.
Customers who escaped from the damaged Marshal Hotel take shelter in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, after a strong quake on Feb. 7, 2018.
PHOTO: In this photo released by Hualien County Fire Bureau, rescuers are seen entering an building that collapsed onto its side from an early morning earthquake in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Feb. 7 2018.
In this photo released by Hualien County Fire Bureau, rescuers are seen entering an building that collapsed onto its side from an early morning earthquake in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Feb. 7 2018.

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