26 injured, 50 isolated in wake of earthquakes

Taipei, Jan. 21 (CNA) A magnitude 6.4 earthquake and several aftershocks battered southern Taiwan early Tuesday morning, causing houses and roads to collapse and leaving dozens injured and 50 people isolated in their village.

A total of 26 people were reported injured and sent to hospitals due to the earthquake as of late Tuesday morning, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Welfare figures.

In Xixing Village of Chiayi County's Dapu District, the location of the quake's epicenter, severe damage was seen and roads entering the village were blocked, isolating around 50 villagers.

Offices and schools in Dapu were closed Tuesday due to the damage.

Another eight people who were originally trapped inside buildings in Tainan and Chiayi City have all been rescued, according to the National Fire Agency.

Meanwhile, a road in Kaohsiung's Jiasian District was blocked by fallen rocks but was later cleared, according to the Highway Bureau.

In Taitung's Haituan Township, a road was also blocked by a collapsed slope. The Highway Bureau expected to open up one lane by noon and resume two-way traffic by 3 p.m.

The main quake hit Chiayi at 12:17 a.m., with the highest intensity measured in Dapu at 6- on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale, an intensity level at which it is difficult to remain standing, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

As of 3:30 a.m., nearly 50 aftershocks had been recorded in southern Taiwan, CWA data showed, the strongest of which was of magnitude 5.2 at 1:42 a.m.