Many had been cut off in remote areas but were believed to be out of danger. The injured list swelled, meanwhile, to nearly 8,000. Earthquakes along Taiwan's eastern coast are relatively frequent, but this one struck the west coast, where the population is more dense. The earthquake, registering 7.6 on the Richter scale, was the strongest recorded in Taiwan and more intense than the 7.4 quake that devastated Turkey in August. Experts said there were fewer casualties in Taiwan because of greater adherence to building codes.
Survivors face a multitude of structural challenges, however.
Electrical fires burned beneath hotel rubble, creating a dangerous oven for rescue workers and those trapped inside. Heat and high humidity reduce chances for longer-term survival of those who might be buried alive. Major aftershocks create new fears and more damage and hamper rescuers tunneling beneath the rubble. One measured 6.8 on the Richter scale, centered just east of Sun Moon Lake Reservoir, one of Taiwan's largest waterworks. Workers found large cracks in the lake's dam and began lowering the water level as a precaution against further ruptures.