Taiwan quake death toll rises to 98

World Today

Rescue teams continue to use heavy excavation machinery to dig through the rubble of a collapsed building complex in Tainan, Taiwan, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016. The Tainan District Prosecutors Office said in a statement Wednesday that they have approved the detention of three construction company executives who are suspected to have overseen shoddy construction of the 17-story Weiguan Golden Dragon building, which tumbled on to its side following an earthquake Saturday. (AP Photo/Johnson Lai)

The death toll from the powerful earthquake that shook southern Taiwan on Saturday had climbed to 98 as of 8:55 p.m. local time on Friday, with 22 people still missing, according to Taiwan’s news agency CNA.

A mourning service was held in Tainan city today, which marks the seventh day since the earthquake. Leading political figures including Taiwan leader-elect Tsai Ing-wen attended the service.  

Relatives, religious leaders and government officials attend a memorial for the victims of the collapsed building complex caused by an earthquake in Tainan, Taiwan, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The 16-story Weiguan Golden Dragon complex was the only building to collapse during Saturday's magnitude-6.4 earthquake, which otherwise caused limited damage in the southern city of Tainan. (AP Photo/Johnson Lai)

Relatives, religious leaders and government officials attend a memorial for the victims of the collapsed building complex caused by an earthquake in Tainan.(AP Photo/Johnson Lai)

More than 90 deaths have been linked to the Wei Guan building in Tainan city, according to local media. Many of them were buried as the 16-story building collapsed after the quake. 

Rescuers said chances for finding any more survivors from the dismantled building were becoming slim, but searching efforts would continue.

The quake, which the China Earthquake Administration said had a magnitude of 6.7, hit Kaohsiung city at 3:57 a.m. local time on Saturday, just two days ahead of the Lunar New Year. 

Story by CCTV NEWS.