Man rescued 56 hours after Taiwan quake

BEIJING -- A second survivor was rescued Monday mornign from under the debris of a collapsed residential building in southern Taiwan some 56 hours after a 6.7-magnitude quake struck.

The man, identified as Li Tsung-tian, was conscious and talking to rescuers when descended from the toppled Wei Guan building in Yongkang District of Tainan City, which bore the brunt of the quake, via a crane.

He was rushed to hospital for treatment but may have to undergo amputation, rescuers said.

He is the second survivor found Monday morning, the first day of the Year of the Monkey according to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.

Earlier in the morning, a woman surnamed Tsao was found shielded under the body of her husband and was pulled out alive by rescuers. She was conscious but in critical conditions.

Rescuers are still scrambling through the wreckage to search for the rest of Tsao's family.

The 6.7-magnitude quake hit Kaohsiung city at 3:57 a.m. Beijing Time on Saturday, just two days ahead of the traditional lunar New Year. Local monitoring authorities put the scale of the quake at 6.4-magnitude.

At least 37 people have so far been confirmed dead in the quake, with over 100 people believed to be still buried under the rubble.

Of those killed -- including at least 10 children -- 35 were found in the Wei Guan building, left on its side with twisted metal girders exposed.

Taiwan is frequently rattled by earthquakes. Most cause little or no damage, although a 7.3-magnitude quake, the strongest to hit Taiwan in about 100 years left more than 2,000 people dead.