4 mainland tourists die in Taiwan earthquake, 5 trapped

The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said authorities in the mainland would keep close contact with those in Hualien and assist families of the dead to go to Taiwan.

Nine people in total were killed, 266 injured and 62 missing as of 8 am Thursday, after the earthquake jolted waters near Hualien county at 11:50 pm Tuesday.

It was the most severe earthquake to hit Hualien in five decades, according to Fu Kun-Chi, head of Hualien county.