Disaster relief work underway after Taiwan quake

The powerful earthquake that jolted China's Taiwan on Wednesday morning has left at least nine dead and more than 1,000 injured, according to local emergency operation center.

The quake left 93 people trapped, including hotel workers, tourists and miners, the center added. Another 52 people are reportedly missing, China Central Television reported on Thursday.

Disaster relief work is underway. Nearly 1,000 people have been evacuated and more than 600 people have been sheltered, the report said.

The 7.3-magnitude quake struck Taiwan's east coast near Hualien at 7:58 am, triggering more than 300 aftershocks occurring at intervals of less than 10 minutes.

"The strong earthquake has damaged 48 residential buildings in Hualien county, with four of them being severely affected," a county official told CCTV News.

The search and rescue operations for residents have concluded at the Uranus building, which endured the most severe damage during the quake. But the building continues to tilt because of gravity and aftershocks, posing a risk of collapse.