The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has confirmed that two Australians are among the 70 people missing after the earthquake that struck Taiwan on Wednesday morning.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of two Australians reported missing following the earthquake in Taiwan,” DFAT said in a statement today.
The statement said the Australian Office in Taipei is making urgent enquiries with local authorities to confirm their welfare.
The earthquake was the strongest in the country in 25 years and has left 10 people dead, 1,100 people injured and ground floors of some buildings collapsed.
The authorities were expecting a smaller earthquake and didn’t send out the usual alerts; finally the earthquake was strong and measured at magnitude 7.4 by the US Geological Survey.