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2 tourists injured in rockfall after magnitude 6.1 quake strikes E. Taiwan

Malaysian man trapped under rubble after rockfall in eastern Taiwan's Taroko Gorge

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Facebook image of tourist injured by rockslide. 

Facebook image of tourist injured by rockslide. 

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- After a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County, two tourists have been reported injured in Taroko Gorge, including a Malaysian man who is currently still pinned beneath rocks.

A woman surnamed Ma (馬) and a Malaysian man surnamed Chu (朱) were struck by falling rocks when the earthquake struck. The woman reportedly suffered injuries to her head, while the man's lower body became pinned beneath the rocks, and rescuers are working on extricating him, reported CNA.

Police said that the site of the rockfall was one kilometer from the starting point of the Lushui Trail. Ma confirmed that the man was a Malaysian national and is still being tended to by rescuers on the scene, reported UDN.

2 tourists injured in rockfall after magnitude 6.1 quake strikes E. Taiwan
Female tourist being treated for injuries. (Hualien Fire Department photo)

The fire department said that it has already directed rock breakers and power generators to be brought into the area to help with rescue efforts.

At 1:01 p.m. this afternoon, a 6.1 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County, where an intensity level of 7 was felt, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB). The epicenter of the temblor was 10.6 kilometers northwest of Hualien County Hall at a shallow depth of 18.8 kilometers.

2 tourists injured in rockfall after magnitude 6.1 quake strikes E. Taiwan
Rescuers tend to injured tourist. (Hualien Police Department photo)

2 tourists injured in rockfall after magnitude 6.1 quake strikes E. Taiwan
Facebook photo of rockslide in Chongde Mountain Area.