Rescue teams continue to search for the missing in a collapsed building, after an early morning earthquake in Tainan, Taiwan, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan early Saturday, toppling at least one high-rise residential building and trapping people inside. AP
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The death toll in a powerful earthquake that struck Taiwan’s oldest city of Tainan a week ago has risen to 109 with at least nine missing.
In the latest update Saturday morning by Taiwan’s Interior Ministry, all but two of the dead were pulled from the ruins of the collapsed Weiguan Golden Dragon residential complex, a 17-story building.
At least nine are believed to be missing and presumed trapped under the rubble.
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Authorities detained the building’s developer Lin Ming-hui and two architects this week on suspicion of negligent homicide amid accusations his firm cut corners in the construction.
Tainan city officials say they will inspect several dozen other developments built by Lin, as well as other buildings in the Weiguan compound that did not collapse.
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